Guide To The Booking Procedure For Use Of Sports Grounds

Block booking by Organisations

This booking procedure is applicable to the booking of Sports Grounds for athletic meets and training as well as other sports activities.

Schools

Schools are allowed to block book sessions of the coming school year in advance for the period from September to mid-July of the following year. This arrangement only applies to sessions during normal school hours, i.e. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Twelve-month in advance

Sports Grounds may be reserved up to twelve months in advance for athletic meets and training as well as other sports activities promoted or organised by the following organisations –

(i)	Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China;
(ii)	Hong Kong Paralympic Committee;
(iii)	National Sports Associations;
(iv)	Community Sports Clubs;
(v)	District Sports Associations;
(vi)	Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation;
(vii)	New Territories Regional Sports Association; and
(viii)	those supported by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) or District Councils

Three-month in advance

Sports Grounds may be reserved three months in advance for championships and leagues promoted or organized, in order of priority, by the following organisations –

(i)	Subvented non-government organizations registered with Social Welfare Department and charitable organizations registered with the Inland Revenue Department.
(ii)	Affiliated clubs of National Sports Associations, registered with Certificate of Incorporation under the Companies Ordinance; or Certificate of Registration of a Society under the Societies Ordinance.
(iii)	Government departments (including trading fund departments), public/statutory bodies organizing departmental/public functions.
(iv)	Bona fide associations and corporations, including government staff clubs/unions and offices of District Council members, may also apply for use of sports grounds. To qualify as bona fide associations and corporations, applicants should be registered with Certificate of Incorporation under the Companies Ordinance; or Certificate of Registration of a Society under the Societies Ordinance.

Quota

Block booking is normally subject to the following quota:

(i)	For schools athletic meets, the booking quota should follow those set by Education Bureau in the school circular; and
(ii)	For other organizations, no more than two four-hours sessions of the peak period* in any one month may be allotted by advance booking to the same organization.

*The hours of peak and non-peak period are subject to the prevailing definition as determined by the LCSD. The definition may be revised on need basis.

Booking Procedure

A standard application form(LCS 187) is used for block booking. Applicants are required to observe and adhere to the deadlines for submission of applications for block books of sports grounds and send the application forms to the respective venues according to the booking schedules stated below. The application will be processed according to the priority of applicant. If more than one application for the same session from applicants of the same priority are received, the allocation will be determined by ballot.

Schools

Detailed booking procedure should be made reference to the relevant Education Bureau Circular Memorandum on Use of Sports Facilities of LCSD by schools for that school year.

Twelve-month in advance

Bookings shall be made at least four but not more than twelve calendar months in advance (i.e. booking for sessions in February 2022 should reach the booking office between 1 January to 30 September 2021. All late applications made after 30 September 2021 will be processed with applications of other organisations entitled three months in advance bookings).

Three-month in advance

Bookings shall be made three months in advance (i.e. bookings for sessions in May 2022 should reach the booking office between 1 to 31 January 2022). All sessions not reserved by bookings for athletic meets and other sports activities may be booked for athletic training.

Hire Charges

Use of all sports grounds managed by LCSD is subject to the prior payment of the prescribed hire charges (the Urban Area / the New Territories.)

Cancellation of Booking

The hirer shall not cancel the confirmed booking unless the cancellation is deemed necessary and supported by strong and justifiable reasons from the hirers. Notice of such cancellation is required to be given to the appropriate booking offices at least 20 days prior to the date of use.

Condition of Use

All users of LCSD sports ground facilities shall observe the Conditions of Use of LCSD Sports Grounds, which have been posted up at sports grounds.

Breach of Conditions of Use by Priority Users

If any priority user fails to observe or perform any of the provisions of the Conditions of Use contained in this Booking Procedure, the officer-in-charge of the venue may refuse such user from using the facilities, or without notice cancel the confirmed booking or immediately terminate the hiring of the facilities, in whole or in part. Any charges paid by the priority users to LCSD may not be refunded and LCSD has the right to deduct from the charges paid or claim from the priority user any loss of the Department as a result of the breach.