Happy Valley swimming pool shut over suspected fake lifeguard credentials

A swimming pool at a private housing estate in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley has been ordered to close after authorities discovered a lifeguard on duty was suspected of using fraudulent credentials.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said on Thursday that the lifeguard’s credentials did not match records held by the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society.

The licensed pool at the private estate at 1–5 Ventris Road was ordered to close immediately because the attendant’s qualifications were in doubt, leaving the facility without the legally required number of qualified lifeguards, a government spokesperson said.

A check by the South China Morning Post found Winfield Building located at the same address.

The department said it was considering prosecuting the pool’s licensee and had referred the suspected use of fraudulent documents to police.

It also notified the Property Management Services Authority for follow-up action.

The statement did not say whether the lifeguard had been arrested, suspended or removed from duty.