The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (February 28) that some outdoor leisure venues will be reopened on March 3 (Tuesday).
Outdoor leisure venues to be re-opened include tennis courts; bowling greens; running tracks in sports grounds (for jogging only); Ngau Chi Wan Park Archery Range; Shek O Obstacle Golf Course; and the archery range, golf driving range and practice greens at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre. The Internet Booking Service of Leisure Link will resume on March 2 for the public to book facilities in advance within three days. Counter booking at most outdoor leisure venues will resume operation on March 3 but refunds will be arranged later.
To avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, the LCSD will adopt special measures at sports facilities to be reopened. Measures include limiting the number of users at venues and the number of joggers in sports grounds, closing spectator stands, cancelling organisation bookings for competitions, and opening alternate rinks/bays for outdoor bowling greens and a golf driving range. Furthermore, disinfectant carpets and alcohol-based handrub will be in place and cleansing measures will be stepped up at the venues. Changing rooms and showering facilities at leisure venues will be temporarily closed to reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Please refer to the LCSD's website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/facilities/facilitieslist/landsports.html) for details of the facilities to be reopened.
Non-fee charging land-based leisure facilities that are open currently including parks, playgrounds, outdoor hard-surface pitches, skateboard grounds, skateparks, roller skating rinks and cycling grounds will maintain services.
In addition, the self-service library stations at Island East Sports Centre Sitting-out Area, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Tsuen Nam Road, Tai Wai, will resume services on March 3. The book drop service of the Hong Kong Public Libraries (except for Peng Chau Public Library) resumed on February 26, while the book drop service at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong Stations will resume on February 29. Public libraries will continue to provide online services such as e-Books and e-Databases.
Various LCSD cultural and leisure facilities will continue to be temporarily closed and recreational, sports and cultural programmes to be held will also be cancelled until further notice. The facilities include all sports centres, sports grounds (except for running tracks), grass pitches, artificial turf soccer pitches, squash courts, golf facilities (except for Shek O Obstacle Golf Course and Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre), public swimming pools, beaches, the Adventure Park at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre, water sports centres and holiday camps.
Cultural facilities temporarily closed include all performance venues, museums, public libraries and their study rooms, mobile libraries, and music centres of the Music Office. Major facilities of performance venues will not be re-opened before the end of March.
During the temporary closure period, URBTIX will maintain Internet and mobile app ticketing and hotline services. URBTIX outlets and ticket dispensing machines at LCSD performance venues will resume operation on March 3. Special opening hours from noon to 6.30pm daily will be implemented. Refund arrangements for cancelled events at the relevant performance venues will be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, processing and acceptance of individual and block booking applications for the department's non-fee charging land recreation and sports facilities as well as block booking applications for the fee charging land recreation and sports facilities are suspended until further notice.
Application for use of wedding venues, amphitheatres and non-fee charging leisure venues for non-designated use/sales activities is suspended until further notice.
The LCSD will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the arrangements in a timely manner.
Follow this news feed: East Asia