Swimming Pool Closed After Lifeguard's Fraudulent Certification Found by Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Suspected use of fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate at private housing estate's swimming pool in Happy Valley

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (August 6) that a life-saving attendant at the licensed swimming pool of a private housing estate, located at 1-5 Ventris Road, Happy Valley, is suspected of using a fraudulent life-saving attendant certificate. As the qualification of the life-saving attendant is in doubt and the swimming pool has allegedly failed to provide a sufficient number of qualified life-saving attendants as required by law, the FEHD has ordered the immediate closure of the pool and is considering prosecuting its licensee. The incident has been reported to the Police, and the FEHD has also notified the Property Management Services Authority to take parallel follow-up action.

Officers from the FEHD yesterday (August 5) verified a batch of lifeguard records with the Hong Kong China Life Saving Society (HKCLSS), and received the verification result today. It is discovered that the credentials of a life-saving attendant on duty at the aforementioned swimming pool yesterday did not match the records of the HKCLSS. The FEHD immediately took action regarding the pool.

The spokesman stressed, "Swimming pool licensees must strictly comply with the Swimming Pools Regulation (Cap. 132CA) and the licensing conditions, ensuring that sufficient qualified life-saving attendants are on duty during the opening hours of the pool. The FEHD will continue to implement various regulatory measures, including stepping up surprise inspections and increasing the frequency of spot checks during the peak swimming season."

Since May 2025, the FEHD has implemented a series of enhancement measures, including stepping up surprise inspections, clearly stipulating the responsibility of licensees to verify the qualifications of life-saving attendants, introducing a tiered penalty mechanism, and strengthening collaboration with relevant organisations. From January to the end of July this year, officers from the FEHD had conducted about 7 000 inspections of over 1 400 licensed private swimming pools across the territory, and had verified the qualifications of about 2 100 life-saving attendants through the HKCLSS. According to the records, since the implementation of enhanced regulatory measures in 2025, the FEHD also discovered a case involving the suspected employment of unqualified life-saving attendants on duty in 2025.

To ensure that licensees fulfil their responsibilities properly, the FEHD explicitly requires them through licensing conditions to verify the identity documents of life-saving attendants before employment, and to keep copies of their Pool Lifeguard Awards and personal logbooks on proper record. The FEHD has also established a standard template of life-saving attendants' duty records. Licensees are required to clearly record the relevant information of life-saving attendants on duty in accordance with the prescribed format, and the records have to be verified and signed by both the inspecting staff assigned by the licensees and the life-saving attendants. FEHD officers will check the relevant records as necessary during inspections or complaint investigations, and will follow up on any violations.

In addition, the FEHD will continue to maintain close collaboration with relevant organisations and regulatory bodies to enhance compliance with the regulatory measures. This includes sustaining close liaison with the HKCLSS and making good use of its mechanism for verifying life-saving attendants' qualifications, and strengthening co-operation with the Property Management Services Authority to require property management companies to exercise strict gatekeeping over the recruitment procedures of life-saving attendants.

The FEHD will continue to implement the relevant measures straightly to enhance the safety standards of licensed swimming pools and safeguard the safety of swimming pool users. Members of the public are called on to take part in the monitoring and report suspected cases of irregularities to the department.

Source: AI-found images

DH continues crackdown on illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine

The Department of Health (DH) today (August 6) continued to conduct operations across multiple districts in Hong Kong to crack down on the illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine, seizing more than 140 boxes of suspected unregistered medicine claimed to have pain-relieving effects. Most of the products were labelled in Japanese. Additionally, two men were arrested on suspicion of violating the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Chapter 138) (the Ordinance).

Following yesterday's unannounced inspections in various districts, including Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Sheung Shui and Yuen Long, DH officers conducted enforcement operations in Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok today. At three retail outlets, DH officers seized more than 140 boxes of suspected unregistered medicine claimed to have pain-relieving effects. Most of the products were labelled in Japanese and did not bear a Hong Kong pharmaceutical product registration number. They are suspected to be medicine containing Ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine. Two men aged 36 and 40 were arrested by the Police on suspicion of contravention of drug-related offences, including illegal possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products and Part 1 Poisons etc.

The DH will continue to investigate and follow up on the case, and will prosecute other individuals involved in the case when sufficient evidence is available.

Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain killer and its side effects include nausea, gastrointestinal discomfort and peptic ulcers. Dihydrocodeine is an opioid analgesic used as a cough suppressant and for pain relief, and its side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation and drowsiness. Medicines containing Ibuprofen and dihydrocodeine are Part 1 poisons and should only be supplied by a pharmacy under the supervision of a registered pharmacist or upon the advice of a medical practitioner.

The DH has an established mechanism to monitor the sale of pharmaceutical products in the market (including the Internet). If the DH detects any suspected illegal sale or possession of pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons, the DH will promptly investigate, and, if necessary, refer the case to other law enforcement agencies to follow up, or conduct joint operations with other law enforcement agencies, and any irregularities so found will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences under the Ordinance, which upon conviction, are subject to a fine of up to $100,000 and an imprisonment for two years.

According to the Ordinance, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be legally sold in the market. The DH reminded the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.

The DH strongly urged members of the public to consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication. Do not purchase or consume products of doubtful composition, or from unknown sources, as their safety, quality and efficacy are not guaranteed. The DH has prepared some safety information for consumers regarding the purchase and use of medicines, namelyBe Cautious when Buying Medicines on Internet,General Knowledge on Registered Medicines,Be Cautious When Buying Medicines Overseas.

DH continues crackdown on illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH continues crackdown on illegal sale or possession of unregistered medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases