Pool at Hong Kong’s Happy Valley shut over suspected fake lifeguard credentials

A swimming pool at a private housing estate in Hong Kong's Happy Valley was forced to shut down after lifeguard credentials were found to be potentially fraudulent. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced on Thursday that the pool's attendant was suspected of using fake qualifications, as their credentials did not align with the records maintained by the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society.

The licensed pool at 1–5 Ventris Road was immediately ordered to cease operations due to the doubts surrounding the lifeguard's credentials, resulting in a temporary shortage of qualified lifeguards at the facility, noted a government spokesperson.

The South China Morning Post conducted a check and identified the pool as belonging to Winfield Building at the same address. In response, the FEHD is contemplating legal action against the pool's licensee and has forwarded the suspected fraudulent documents to the police for further investigation. The department also notified the Property Management Services Authority for additional follow-up measures. The statement did not disclose whether the lifeguard had been apprehended, suspended, or removed from duty.

The FEHD officers had forwarded a batch of lifeguard records to the society for verification on Wednesday, receiving the results the following day, which triggered immediate action against the pool's licensee. The department emphasized that "Swimming pool licensees must strictly comply with the Swimming Pools Regulation and the licensing conditions, ensuring that sufficient qualified life-saving attendants are on duty during the opening hours of the pool."

Since May of the previous year, private pool licensees have been legally obligated to verify lifeguards' identity documents before hiring them and retain copies of their Pool Lifeguard Awards and personal logbooks. Duty records must also be signed by both the lifeguards and the inspecting staff appointed by the licensees.

The FEHD conducted approximately 7,000 inspections at over 1,400 licensed private pools between January and July of this year, verifying the qualifications of around 2,100 lifeguards. The department has also disclosed that another case involving the deployment of unqualified lifeguards was revealed last year following the implementation of stricter regulatory measures. The department plans to augment surprise inspections and spot checks during the peak swimming season to ensure compliance and safety.