Leisure and Cultural Services DepartmentLeisure and Cultural Services Department
Guide To The Booking Procedure For Use Of Public Swimming Pools
This booking procedure is applicable to the booking of public swimming pools for competition and training as well as other sports activities.
Organisations eligible for priority booking (Priority users shall be non-profit-making organisations and the hired swimming pool facilities are used for non-profit-making activities.)
| One school year in advance (Applicable to schools only) | |
| 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 (except Morrison Hill Swimming Pool, Kowloon Park Swimming Pool and Victoria Park Swimming Pool which are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays); and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. | |
| Five to Twelve months in advance (For organising competitions / galas) | |
| For swimming competitions / galas, the following users may submit the applications (not more than twelve months) in advance and before the closing days as stipulated in Booking Procedure. | |
| (i) | Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; |
| (ii) | China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee; |
| (iii) | Relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) and their affiliated clubs; |
| (iv) | The Schools Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China; |
| (v) | Swimming Teachers' Association (Hong Kong); |
| (vi) | District Sports Associations; |
| (vii) | New Territories Regional Sports Association; |
| (viii) | The Venue-based Lifeguard Clubs based at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) swimming pools; |
| (ix) | Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) endorsed by the Social Welfare Department; |
| (x) | Government departments; and |
| (xi) | Those supported by the LCSD or District Councils. |
| Four to Six months in advance (for organising training) | |
| Bookings for organizing training by the above mentioned organisations or bona fide organisations, associations and corporations can be submitted four-month in advance (not more than six months) and before the closing days as stipulated in Booking Procedure. Applicants should provide the following documents- | |
| (i) | Certificate of Business Registration; or |
| (ii) | Certificate of Incorporation under the Companies Ordinance; or |
| (iii) | Certificate of Registration of a Society under the Society Ordinance; and |
| (iv) | Proven track record in the development and promotion of the related sports. |
Quota
| (i) | In general, not more than four of 50-metre lanes in each pool complex may be allocated for block bookings for training purpose during swimming pool opening hours. During the two session breaks in a day (Please click here for Information of swimming pools), all swimming lanes and training pool will be open for organisation booking. |
| (ii) | Except for organising swimming competitions / galas, non-priority user will be allowed to book not more than one lane-hour at 25-metre /50-metre pool or one pool-hour at teaching/training/diving pool in each pool complex for training for each day during non-peak periods. |
| (iii) | The District Leisure Managers may exercise his/her discretion to increase or decrease the number of pools/lanes to be allocated for block booking based on the demand of the general public and training needs of the hirer. |
Trial Scheme for Flexible Use of Swimming Pool Facilities
For effective use of public swimming pool resources, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is implementing a “Trial Scheme for Flexible Use of Swimming Pool Facilities” to allow eligible organisations to hire pool facilities which are expected to be closed due to shortage of lifeguards. For relevant information, please click here (content in Chinese only).
Booking Procedure
A standard application form , should be used for block booking. Applicants are required to observe and adhere to the deadlines for submission of applications for block books of swimming pool facilities and send the application forms to the respective swimming pool offices 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. All priority users' applications (except schools and government departments) without the proper endorsement of the parent Associations or late applications should be treated as non-priority applications.
Application Closing Date
One school year in advance (Applicable to schools only)
Bookings for the coming school year should be made before 1 April of each year. Detailed booking procedure should be made reference to relevant Education Bureau Circular Memorandum for that school year.
Group Booking (Not applicable to schools)
| Applicant | Priority User | Non-priority User |
| Organising swimming competitions/ galas | 5-month in advance | 3-month in advance |
| Organising Training | 4-month in advance | 2-month in advance |
Hire Charges
Use of recreation and sports facilities managed by the LCSD is subject to prior payment of the prescribed hire charges that can be obtained from swimming pool offices.
Cancellation of Booking
The Hirer shall not cancel any confirmed booking unless the cancellation is deemed necessary and supported by strong and justifiable reasons. Notice of such cancellation is required to be given not less than 14 days prior to the date of use. The Hirer cannot cancel a booking and no refund of hire charges will be made after the hire charges are paid by the Hirer.
General Conditions of Use
All Hirers of public swimming pools shall observe the "Terms and Conditions of Hire of LCSD Public Swimming Pools" that can be obtained from swimming pool offices.
Breach of Conditions of Hire
The Hirer shall observe the terms and condition of the Contract and abide by the Regulation.
If the Hirer breaches the terms and conditions of the Contract, without prejudice to any rights and remedies to which LCSD may be entitled at law or in equity, LCSD will suspend the booking priority to which the Hirer is entitled for the next school year (in the case of schools) or for 3 months commencing from the date specified in the notification letter issued by LCSD to the Hirer (in the case of other organisations). LCSD also reserves the right to refuse the Hirer from using any hired facility or cancel any confirmed bookings during the 3-month period commencing from the date specified in the notification letter issued by LCSD to the Hirer. In such cases, no refund of hire charges will be made to the Hirer.
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For effective use of public swimming pool resources, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is implementing a “Trial Scheme for Flexible Use of Swimming Pool Facilities” to allow eligible organisations to hire pool facilities which are expected to be closed due to shortage of lifeguards. For relevant information, please click here (content in Chinese only).
