Lifeguard strike closes beaches, pools
The red flag was hoisted to stop swimming at two beaches, and five swimming pools were affected as 300 lifeguards went on strike yesterday.
The red flag was hoisted to stop swimming at two beaches, and five swimming pools were affected as 300 lifeguards went on strike yesterday over a manpower shortage and an increased workload amid an influx of visitors from the mainland.
Lifesaving services were suspended at Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun and Anglers' Beach in Tsuen Wan. The red flag, indicating swimming was unsafe, was raised at both. Most of the 41 beaches managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department were open as normal.
Swimming pools at Sham Shui Po Park and Shing Mun Valley in Tsuen Wan were closed completely for several hours. Some facilities, such as toddlers' pools, were closed at Morrison Hill in Wan Chai, Hammer Hill Road in Wong Tai Sin and Tuen Mun North West pool.
About 400 lifeguards, including off-duty staff and strikers, joined a sit-in at department headquarters in Sha Tin to demand pay rises to attract recruits.
Alex Kwok Siu-kit, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Lifeguards' Union, said some pool lifeguards worked shifts longer than 10 hours.
