1.1The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), set up under the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB), is responsible for the territory-wide provision of recreational, sports and cultural facilities and services.

Vision, Mission and Values

1.2 Our vision is to :

• provide quality leisure and cultural services that are commensurate with Hong Kong's development as a world-class city and events capital.

• enrich life by providing quality leisure and cultural services for all;

• promote professionalism and excellence in leisure pursuits and cultural services;

• promote synergy with sports, cultural and community organisations to enhance the development of arts and sports in Hong Kong;

• preserve cultural heritage;

• beautify the environment through tree planting;

• achieve a high level of customer satisfaction; and

• build a highly motivated, committed and service-oriented workforce.

• Customer focus
  We continue to respond to customers’ needs and pledge to provide services in a courteous and user-friendly manner.

• Quality
  We pledge to deliver high-quality services in a cost-effective manner.

• Creativity
  We continue to encourage diversity and to value original ideas.

• Professionalism
  We uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics while maintaining a high level of performance.

• Result-oriented
  Our focus at all times is to achieve the best results possible.

• Cost-effectiveness
  We are committed to reaching our goals in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

• Continuous improvement
  We seek to continually improve our services and to respond proactively in meeting the changing needs of the community.

Overall View of Our Operation

1.6The Department organises and promotes a wide range of leisure and cultural activities for people of all ages with a view to enhancing arts appreciation and enriching the quality of life of the community. The major responsibilities of the Department are set out in the paragraphs below.

Recreation and Sports

1.7We develop and manage recreational and sports facilities and organise a wide range of leisure activities in order to promote recreation and sports at all levels throughout the community. As at 31.12.2007, the number of major recreational and sports facilities under our management was -

Horticulture and Amenities

1.8We promote appreciation and conservation of nature and greening of Hong Kong through planting of trees, shrubs and other plants in public parks and amenity areas, and through organising a wide range of community greening activities. In 2007, we maintained a total of about 1 570 hectares of amenities area and planted about 3.43 million trees, shrubs and annuals.

Heritage and Museums

1.9We preserve heritage and provide museum services with a view to promoting appreciation of heritage, arts and culture. In 2007, we managed 17 museums including two heritage centres and a film archive. We organized a total of about 130 exhibitions and 23 240 in-house and outreach programmes covering the themes of history, art, heritage and science.

Performing Arts

1.10We promote arts through the provision of cultural facilities and presentation of programmes. In 2007, we managed 15 performing arts venues and organized a total of about 3,950 cultural presentations which include music, dance, Cantonese and western opera, drama, theatre and multimedia performing arts programmes.

Public Libraries

1.11We provide, manage and develop library services to meet community needs for knowledge, life-long learning, information, research and recreation; offer library extension activities to all ages; and promote reading and literary arts. We managed 76 public libraries and the stock of books as at 31.12.2007 was 10.6 million and that for multimedia materials was 1.5 million.