LCQ20: Provision of sports and recreation facilities

     Following is a question by the Hon Lee Chun-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Kevin Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (November 6):
 
Question:
 
     It is learnt that while the brilliant results of the national team and the Hong Kong, China delegation in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympic Games are heartening and have roused an instant craze for sports in Hong Kong, the shortage of sports venues in Hong Kong has all along been subjected to criticism. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) in respect of the Five-Year Plan for Sports and Recreation Facilities (Five-Year Plan) and the 10-year Development Blueprint for Sports and Recreation Facilities (10-year Blueprint) put forth in the 2017 Policy Address and the 2022 Policy Address respectively, of the Government's concrete plans to expedite the construction progress of the uncompleted projects therein;
 
(2) apart from the projects covered by the Five-Year Plan and the 10-‍year Blueprint, of the Government's other plans to increase the provision of district sports facilities; and
 
(3) whether it will consider converting some vacant markets into multi-‍purpose government buildings for the provision of facilities such as sports complexes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
 
Reply:

President,
 
     My consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Lee Chun-keung is as follows:

(1) The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) strive to secure resources for implementing various projects for sports and recreation facilities as announced in the Five-Year Plan for Sports and Recreation Facilities (Five-Year Plan) and 10-Year Development Blueprint for Sports and Recreation Facilities (10-Year Blueprint). The projects are planned in accordance with public works procedures, including conducting technical feasibility studies (TFS), undertaking design, consulting District Councils and relevant stakeholders, tendering and seeking funding approval.
 
     Out of the 26 projects under the Five-Year Plan, 21 projects have obtained funding approval. Among which, 13 projects have been opened or partially opened for public use and eight projects have their pre-construction activities/construction works commenced. Four projects are in the early stage of planning and one project has been incorporated in a redevelopment project in the district concerned. The 10-Year Blueprint involves 31 projects. For the 16 projects for implementation under Phase 1, two projects have obtained funding approval with related works in progress, 11 projects have completed the TFS and are pending funding application. The remaining three projects are in the planning stage prior to the TFS. As for the 15 projects recommended for conducting the TFS, one has been completed and is pending funding application. The Government will advance the progress of various projects subject to allocation of financial resources.

(2) The Government endeavours to provide quality and diversified sports and recreation facilities to the public for meeting their needs. Other than the Five-Year Plan and the 10-Year Blueprint, the Government will continue to plan for new sports facilities and improve existing facilities, taking into account various factors including the current provision of sports facilities across Hong Kong and at the district level, policy objectives of sports development, utilisation of existing facilities, demographic changes, views of the District Councils and relevant stakeholders, site availability, technical feasibility and allocation of financial resources. The LCSD also collaborates with other policy bureaux (such as the Harbour Office and the Invigorating Island South Office under the Development Bureau) and government departments (such as the Civil Engineering and Development Department) to jointly plan and implement sports and recreation facilities under other works projects (such as Public Open Space at East Coast Park Precinct at North Point) to cater for public needs.

(3) The Government is planning to convert some floors of the Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building into an Urban Sports Centre with a view to providing venues suitable for activities such as sport climbing, breakdancing, and skateboarding. Upon completion of the TFS of the project, the Architectural Services Department has commenced the design preparatory work since July this year. In addition to the plan for the conversion of some floors of the Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building, the Government will also review other existing facilities of relatively low utilisation (such as vacant markets) and explore the possibility of using those sites to provide appropriate sports facilities for promoting sports.