Work Improvement Teams

By the end of December, 262 Work Improvement Teams (WITs) were set up in district leisure venues to implement self-initiated and departmental improvements.

	Members of an adjudicating panel trying out facilities upgraded by a Work Improvement Team at participating venues.

In view of their success, the department will continue to support the teams at all major leisure venues, including sports centres, swimming pool complexes, beaches, parks and playgrounds.

Conversion of Under-Utilised Facilities

More than 100 squash courts have been opened up for use as activity rooms since August to improve the use of recreational and sports facilities. The public can book the courts for other popular activities such as table tennis, yoga, taekwondo, tai chi, and games for small groups. The department will continue to explore the flexible conversion of under-utilised sports facilities for other more gainful uses to meet local needs.

	Squash courts are opened up for other activities to improve the use of recreational and sports facilities and to meet local needs.

Facilities for NSAs

The department provided 35 NSAs with National Squad Training Centres, which can be fully utilised for training athletes. The arrangement encourages the associations to use LCSD facilities and to make available more training opportunities for the national squads and athletes.

Free-Use Scheme

The free-use scheme aims to maximise the use of recreational facilities by allowing eligible organisations access to the main arena and activity rooms of all sports centres, squash courts, hockey pitches, outdoor bowling greens and obstacle golf courses, free of charge during non-peak hours. Eligible organisations include schools, NSAs, district sports associations and subvented non-governmental organisations.

LCSD Leisure Link

The computerised Leisure Link booking system was upgraded in December to meet increasing public demand and to provide a more efficient service. The system was introduced in March 2002 to enable the public to book leisure facilities in Hong Kong through the Internet, by telephone, or by visiting booking counters.

One-stop Service

A one-stop service has been fully implemented at 144 recreational venues since October 2003. The service enables the public to book facilities, register and pay charges for recreational programmes, and to obtain professional advice and assistance on facility usage and sports programming all at the one venue.

	People can book facilities, register and pay charges for recreational programmes at the same time with the implementation of the new 'one-stop service'.

Technical Library

The Technical Library on Recreation and Sports, located on the 15^th floor of the Leisure and Cultural Services Headquarters, serves as an information centre to keep staff abreast of the latest developments. Other interested parties, such as leisure managers, students, teachers and sportsmen and women are also welcome to use the library. At present, the Technical Library has a collection of some 1,500 books, magazines, periodicals, catalogues, research articles and reports. Suitable reference books will continue to be added to the collection.

Places of Amusement Licenses

The department has been the licensing authority for billiard establishments, public bowling-alleys and public skating rinks under the Places of Amusement Regulation (subsidiary legislation to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Chapter 132) since January 1, 2000. This year, 85 billiard establishments, seven public bowling-alleys and four public skating rinks were licensed.

	The LCSD is the licensing authority for Hong Kong's public skating rinks.

Beaches and Swimming Pools

Swimming is one of the most popular summer pastimes in Hong Kong. During the year, almost 22 million visits were made to beaches (12.43 million) and public swimming pools (9.81 million) managed by the LCSD. In promoting water sports safety, the department continued to co-organise a series of campaigns and activities in collaboration with the Hong Kong Life Saving Society.

Cooling off at the Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool, one of the many pools managed by the LCSD.