Lawmaker-cum-current affairs commentator Ron Lam U Tou urged the government in a written interpellation submitted on Friday to make it a mandatory requirement for hotels to provide lifeguards at their swimming pools when they are open to the public, as well as come up with a more comprehensive regulation on large-scale water recreational facilities at local resorts, following the drowning of a 12-year-old boy last Sunday in the swimming pool of Pousada de Coloane in Coloane.
Lam made his written interpellation on Friday, a copy of which was sent to the media by email on Sunday. The government hasn’t replied to the written interpellation yet.
Lam pointed out that there is no requirement under the existing legislation governing hotels and similar establishments for the provision of lifeguards at their swimming pools, nor is there any requirement on the qualifications or conditions of the lifeguards concerned, but in line with the government’s “Hotel Pool Safety Requirements”, recommendations regarding the provision of lifeguards during the opening hours of swimming pools have been given to hotels equipped with swimming pools. However, there is no penalty for hotels that don’t provide lifeguards at their swimming pools.
Lam also pointed out that the current requirements recommend that for swimming pools with a water surface area of less than 250 square metres, a minimum of two lifeguards should be provided, however, Lam said, it was “worrying” that the requirements only regulate the hotels’ swimming pools, while water parks are not subject to the requirements.
Lam underlined that it is a mandatory requirement for Macau’s public swimming pools under the Sports Bureau (ID) to have lifeguards there on duty before they open to the public. He pointed out that no fatal drowning accident has occurred at public swimming pools under the bureau in recent years.
Lam expressed concern that currently it is difficult to ensure the safety of residents and tourists frequenting hotels’ swimming pools, adding that while Macau has positioned itself as an emerging World Centre for Tourism and Leisure, the relevant laws and regulations on lifeguards for hotels’ swimming pools and the inspection of large-scale water parks have not been followed up in a timely manner.
Lam questioned whether the government was ready to review and revise its official guidelines on hotel swimming pools in the near future, and whether it would introduce legislation to regulate recreational facilities such as large-scale water parks.
This undated file photo was provided by lawmaker-cum-current affairs commentator Ron Lam U Tou yesterday.
