With the summer heat in full swing, hk pools are an ideal way to cool off, get exercise and enjoy water play with your kids. Not only does swimming strengthen muscles and bones, but it also reduces stress and boosts energy levels, and can help lower the risk of stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
There are 45 public swimming pools and 1,371 licensed private ones in Hong Kong. However, some will not be fully open this month due to a shortage of lifeguards, the Hong Kong Recreation and Sports Professionals General Union (HKRSPGU) said in a press conference on Tuesday. The HKRSPGU is also urging the LCSD to allow schools and training institutions to use pools even when no lifeguards are present, provided they can guarantee that a qualified teacher is on site at all times.
The new HK$800 million pool at Victoria Park features a 50-by-25 metre main pool, a leisure pool, a teaching pool and a toddler pool, with the largest swimming pool spectator stand in the city with a capacity of 2,500. It is the biggest pool complex in the city, and has already been popular among local residents. The pool was designed by the United Kingdom-based Derek Walker Associates and built by Hong Kong firm Simon Kwan and Associates.
Several other new and improved swimming pools have been completed in recent years. In addition to the new Wan Chai Swimming Pool, a replacement for an older pool that was demolished for the Exhibition Centre station of the Sha Tin to Central Link, and the new Tsing Yi swimming pool which has a leisure pool and a teaching pool, there are the Tai Po District Pool, the Tuen Mun Pool, the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool and the Tin Shui Wai North Swimming Pool.
Aside from the new and improved facilities, hk pools are also known for their top-notch services and amenities. For example, the pool at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong has floor-to-ceiling windows that give a stunning view of the skyline and Victoria Harbour, and LCD screens that display tropical fishes, bubbles and clouds. There are also a number of water slides for children to enjoy.
If you’re planning to move to a new residential development, consider the swimming pool facilities before you buy. Those at larger developments with several towers typically have a 50-metre outdoor pool plus a smaller indoor one. Smaller single-tower developments may have a much smaller outdoor pool, which is not suitable for lap swimming but still fun for children to splash around and burn off energy. You can also find out about the pools in a neighbourhood by checking building permit records. You can search for permits on the LCSD website.