Guide To The Booking Procedure For Use Of Fee Charging Recreation And Sports Facilities

Individual Booking

Individual bookings can be classified into:

	(a)	advance bookings of turf soccer pitches by individual SmartPLAY patron, who can submit balloting applications through SmartPLAY system 14 to 20 days prior to the date of use of the pitch;
	(b)	7-day advance bookings by individual SmartPLAY patrons on a first-come-first-served basis; and
	(c)	on-the-spot bookings

Booking Procedure

SmartPLAY patrons can book turf soccer pitches allocated through ballot via the SmartPLAY system 14 to 20 days prior to the date of use of the pitch and make advance bookings of facilities not taken up by block bookings or online balloting on a first-come-first-served basis up to 7 days in advance of the date of use of the facility (i.e. booking for 1st to 7th day of the month can be made on 1st day of the month). Session(s) which are not booked 15 minutes prior to that session are available for on-the-spot booking by both SmartPLAY patrons and Non-SmartPLAY patrons. The booked facilities should only be used for the designated purpose. Individual whose booking right for fee-charging recreation and sport facilities has been suspended due to breach of booking conditions are not allowed to make any advance or on-the-spot booking.

The SmartPLAY patrons must fill in the patron account number or an alias of four other users when booking the turf soccer pitches (except multi-purpose turf pitches) regardless through balloting or first-come-first-served basis.

Booking Quota

The daily booking quota per hirers is a maximum of two hours play per day during peak hours for the same type of facility at all venues, and a maximum of two hours play during non-peak hours for the same type of facility at an individual venue. For example, if an individual has already booked a two-hour session at a tennis court during peak hours, he or she will not be able to book another peak-hour session of tennis court on the same day through the SmartPLAY System. For turf pitches (i.e. soccer pitch, hockey grounds, rugby pitches, etc.) and archery ranges, a maximum of one session (90 minutes per session) and two sessions (90 minutes per session) can be booked respectively each day. The session(s) booked shall not overlap with other booked sessions of the hirer.

Booking Methods

Members of the public can book the recreation and sports facilities through the following channels:

	(i)	Making the booking through internet booking service of the SmartPLAY system, the mobile Application and smart self-service stations at leisure venues and DLSOs. The hirer are required to settle payment immediately by e-payment on the system.
	(ii)	Hirer can make booking at SmartPLAY service counters at leisure venues and DLSOs. Hirers have to produce the original of their Hong Kong identity cards (HKID) and proof of qualification (if necessary) when making a booking at any SmartPLAY service counter. For children aged below 11, they can produce other identity documents including birth certificate, Document of Identity for Visa Purposes, HKSAR Re-entry or One-way Permit. For persons who are not holder of HKID cards, they can only make advance booking after registered as SmartPLAY Temporary Patron or on-the-spot bookings by producing valid original travel document. In case of queue, each person can only make booking per visit to the service counter for a maximum of two permits and/or for two hours play. For turf pitches, a maximum of one session can be booked.

Refund

Recreation and sports facilities will be closed on the issue of tropical cyclone signal No. 8, or due to inclement weather or any unforeseen circumstances, or at the discretion of the management when, in its opinion that the facilities are unsuitable for use from safety or operational point of view. In order to maintain the turf conditions, the natural turf pitches will be closed under the following situations – (a) on the issue of Amber rainstorm signal or above; (b) when more than half of pitch surface is accumulated with rainwater which cannot be discharged within one hour prior to their opening to public use; (c) when more than half of the bare patches become extremely muddy and slippery after heavy or persistent rainfall, constituting potential safety hazards to users; and (d) when the officer-in-charge of the venue considers the pitches are unsafe for use from safety or turf maintenance point of view after their thorough site inspections. If a confirmed booking has to be cancelled owing to the closure of the facility, the hirer is entitled to refund of the hire charge.

Points to Note:

	All hirers/ users of Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) recreation and sports facilities must observe the Conditions of Use of LCSD Recreation and Sports Facilities.
	Individual hirer must be present at the venue to use the facilities during the booked session (For the booking of turf soccer pitches, three out of four users provided in the balloting application must be present with the individual hirer during the use of the booked session). Before using the facilities, the hirer (including the abovementioned three users of the turf soccer pitches) must check-in for the use of the facilities with his/her original HKID Card at the SmartPLAY Smart Self-service Station or Self-service Check-in Device. Non-HKID Card holders and hirers who have not had their relevant qualifications / proof of eligibility for concession of their SmartPLAY account information verified are required to present the original copy of the recognised identity document and the recognised qualification / eligibility certificate (if required) at the counter for checking and registration. The hirer is required to make a declaration via the SmartPLAY system or fill in the declaration form at the counter when registering for check-in. A hirer who breaches the declaration may be prosecuted and held criminally liable.
	The permit/ approval letter is not transferable.
	A hirer who is unable to take up a booked session should cancel the booked facility as soon as possible. Hirers can cancel the booking through the SmartPLAY system one day before the start of the booked session(s). The hire charges paid for the cancelled bookings or sessions not taken up will not be refunded.
	Persons who are (i) aged 60 or above, (ii) full-time students, or (iii) persons with disabilities are eligible for concessionary rates for certain specified periods of time. If a hirer claims / declares that he/ she is eligible for concessionary rate and books a facility at a concessionary rate but fails to produce a valid documentary proof to prove that he/ she is eligible for concessionary rate, LCSD will not accept top up payment for the shortfall in fees by the hirer at all times and will refuse his/ her use of the booked facility.
	In order to enjoy concessionary rate in the use of facilities, the hirer and all his/her partner(s) should all be eligible for concession. If any partner(s) of the hirers are not eligible for concessionary rate, the hirer is required to top up the shortfall between the concessionary rate and normal rate before using the facility. Otherwise, the hirer’s partner(s) is/ are not allowed to use the facility. Accompanying carers of persons with disabilities when using facilities that require payment by individual hirers/users (such as table tennis table) are also eligible for concessionary rate on a ratio at 1:1. A hirer who is found to have used a facility with any partners not eligible for the concessionary rate may be deemed to have abused the concession and is liable to penalty. The relevant ineligible users should immediately stop using the facilities concerned.