Leisure and Cultural Services Department

Latest arrangements for LCSD public services

      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced that, in view of the relaxation of some social distancing measures announced by the Government, more LCSD venues are reopened gradually by phases from May 5 (Thursday).

From May 5

     The gazetted beaches and water sports centres of LCSD will reopen. Please refer to Annex 1 for a list of gazetted beaches provided with lifeguard services. Lifeguard services will be provided daily at the gazetted beaches covered in the list from 9am to 6pm.  The services will be extended to 8am to 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the swimming season from June to August. Lifeguard services at other beaches will remain suspended except at the gazetted beaches covered in the list.  Members of the public should not swim at the beaches without lifeguard services to avoid accidents.

     Moreover, starting from May 5, public are not required to wear mask when doing exercise at the LCSD's outdoor sports premises.

From May 16

     Forty-two public swimming pools have been reopened. Please refer to Annex 2 for details of the reopening arrangement.
     
From May 19

     In view of the second phase of relaxation of social distancing has been taken effect on May 19, the public is not required to wear mask when doing exercise within any indoor sports premises.

     The limit on the number of audiences/users in each facility of LCSD performance venues (except for major facilities of Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre and Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre) has been relaxed starting from May 19, with capacity to be increased from 50 to 85 per cent of the original. Consecutive seats are limited to eight. For details, please refer to the notifications of individual venues. The limit on the number of users in other cultural facilities such as museums and public libraries are also suitably relaxed on the same day.

     For public programmes to be held at museums, including the screening programmes of the Hong Kong Film Archive, the limit on the number of audiences/users and other arrangements are the same as the above-mentioned performance venues, with capacity increased to 85 per cent.

     The public should pay attention to the following measures while using the reopened facilities :

Gazetted beaches:
 

• Members of the public must comply with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap 599G); and
• Members of the public must wear masks at all times (except while swimming and engaging in physical activity) when being present on beaches in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap 599I).

Water Sports Centres:
 

• In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, the LCSD will ensure necessary measures to be adopted at reopened water sports centres.  Users of water sports centres are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code before being allowed to enter for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found;
• In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering or remaining at water sports centres under the management of the LCSD must comply with the requirement of the Vaccine Pass;
• Arranging body temperature screening for all people before entering water sports centres. Those with symptoms such as fever or respiratory illness will not be allowed to enter into the water sports centres; and
• Ensuring members of the public to wear masks at all times within water sports centres except when they are doing water sports at sea, having a shower or doing warm-up exercises with a distance of at least 1.5m from others.

Arrangement of Craft Hiring

     Members of the public who meet the prerequisite qualifications can make use of the following channels to apply for 7-day advance booking or on-the-spot booking of unreserved crafts from May 4 (Wednesday), on a first-come-first-served basis:

i. Leisure Link e-Services System;
ii. Bring along the identification documents, proof of qualifications, craft hiring application form with fee in person at any water sports centres, District Leisure Services Offices and the specified recreational and sport venues with Leisure Link System; and
iii. Self-service Kiosk.
 
Public Swimming Pools
 

• In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, the LCSD will ensure necessary measures to be adopted at reopened swimming pools. Users of swimming pools are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code before being allowed to enter for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found;
• In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering or remaining at swimming pools under the management of the LCSD must comply with the requirement of the Vaccine Pass;
• Temporarily limiting the number of users in swimming pools to 85 per cent of the original capacity to maintain distance among swimmers, and opening some pool facilities only;
• Distributing numbered tickets to people lining up when the numbers of users in swimming pools have reached the temporary maximum pool capacity, and reminding them to take note of the numbers shown on the queuing board in order to avoid people gathering;
• Arranging body temperature screening for all people before entering swimming pools. Those with symptoms such as fever or respiratory illness will not be allowed to enter the swimming pools;
• Ensuring appropriate distance between users of shower facilities, with shower heads which are not within individual cubicles will open but maintaining 1.5m apart;
• Group gathering of more than 8 persons is not allowed in swimming pool, and there must be a distance of 1.5 metres or more between different groups. (Except for the training group or class-taking place in a swimming lane/pool booked exclusively for training purpose);
• Ensuring members of the public to wear masks at all times within swimming pools except when they are swimming, having a shower, walking from a changing room to a pool or vice versa, walking from a pool to another pool, or doing warm-up exercises with a distance of at least 1.5m from others. Coaches must wear masks at all time during coaching (irrespective of whether the coach is in the water or not); and
• Limiting the number of spectator in the stands at swimming pools to 85 per cent of the original capacity. No more than eight consecutive seats can be occupied in the same row.

     
     The LCSD will pay close attention to the latest developments of the pandemic, as well as the requirements for scheduled premises as stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), and review or revise the above reopening arrangements in due course.