Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool closed over collapsed ceiling

Lawmaker urges an investigation after it was announced on Tuesday that the Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool will be closed for renovation due to a collapsed ceiling, despite its recent opening.

The LCSD announced yesterday (June 18) that the Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool located in Tai Po will be temporarily closed starting July 2 for renovation work, which is expected to be completed by the end of October.

During the closure period, members of the public can use the swimming facilities at Tai Po Swimming Pool and Tai Po Long Mei Beach in the same district.

According to the photos of the area, it was found that one of the swimming pools had been cordoned off, and the false ceiling was covered with white protective netting to catch ceiling fragments.

It is understood that the ceiling is in serious condition, and other than the paint peeling off, there are also huge fragments of cement that have fallen.

Tai Po District Councilor Lo Hiu Fung said that it was unusual for a swimming pool that was just  opened less than two years ago to have a crumbling ceiling, raising questions about the construction project.

He urged the authorities to explain in detail what went wrong to alleviate public concern.

According to information, the Tung Cheong Street Recreation and Sports Building was put into service on August 15, 2022, and the Tung Cheong Street Swimming Pool on the first floor of the building was put into service on August 22.

It is the first indoor swimming pool with a heated water supply in the district. Facilities include a 25-by-25 meter training pool, a 25-by-10 meter swimming pool, and a *whirlpool *.

The construction was contracted to Hanison Construction Co Ltd.