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

A swimming pool at a private estate in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley has been ordered to shut down due to concerns about a lifeguard's credentials. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department discovered that the lifeguard's qualifications did not match records held by the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society, leading to the immediate closure of the facility.

The pool, located at Winfield Building at Ventris Road, was found to be operating with an insufficient number of qualified lifeguards, as the licensee failed to comply with the required checks and verifications. The department has referred the case to the police for potential prosecution and is considering further action against the pool's licensee.

The incident highlights the importance of adhering to licensed pool regulations, which now require lifeguards to present identity documents, retain Pool Lifeguard Awards, and maintain personal logbooks. The FEHD has been conducting regular inspections and increased its efforts during the peak swimming season to ensure compliance with safety standards.

Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's own syndicated text. Machine-written — read the original for the full account.