4 measures on recreation booking system unveiled

Implementation starts 18 June.

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department will implement four measures on June 18 to enhance the booking and allocation of recreation and sports facilities, and curb touting.

The advance booking period of recreation and sports facilities for individual hirers will be shortened from 30 days to 10. If a person makes an advance booking on June 18, they can only book sessions up to June 27.

The 30-day advance booking arrangement will cease on May 28. Between that day and June 17, hirers can make advance bookings up to June 26 only.

The department conducted a public consultation from October to December last year, on a package of proposed measures to improve the booking and allocation arrangements for recreation and sports facilities.

Taking into account the relatively high no-show rate for soccer pitch bookings and the significant proportion of these unclaimed sessions being taken up by standby users afterwards, the department proposes implementing a six-month trial scheme during which the standby arrangement at pitches will be cancelled from June 18.

It will collect data on venue utilisation for preliminary analysis three months after the introduction of the trial scheme, and conduct a comprehensive review in another three months before deciding whether the cancellation arrangement should continue or be implemented on a long-term basis.

The reallocation period offered to hirers who cannot use booked facilities due to inclement weather, will be reduced from 60 days to 15.

The department will also cease to accept bookings of sports facilities by the minders of disabled people using concessionary rates. The rights of the disabled will not be affected as they can still book the facilities at concessionary rates and use them with or without a minder.