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Following is a question by the Hon Chung Kwok-pan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, in the Legislative Council today (May 15):
Question:
In recent years, a number of golf driving ranges have closed down/are facing closure due to resumption of land by the Government for other uses. Following the closure of the golf driving range at the harbourfront site in Tsueng Kwan O at the end of last year, the site of the driving range in Cheung Sha Wan will also be resumed in the near future for public housing development. Furthermore, the site of the golf driving range at Lok Wo Sha, Ma On Shan may also be resumed a few years later. Some local golfers and people engaged in the sport have relayed to me their concern that the aforesaid situation will impede the development of golf as a sport in Hong Kong. In particular, with the resumption of the site of the golf driving range in Cheung Sha Wan, there will not be any golf driving range in the urban area, and it will be more inconvenient for members of the public to play golf as compared with the past. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that quite a number of members of the public from the middle class play golf in recent years and golf has been listed as one of the events of the Olympic Games, and golf is therefore no longer an activity for the rich but a popular sport, whether the Government will allocate more resources, including those for publicity work and provision of land, etc., to facilitate the development of the sport; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) whether the Government will consider identifying a site in the urban area for constructing a permanent golf driving range, so as to encourage members of the public to participate in the sport;
(c) given that some operators of golf driving ranges have suggested that the Government allocate, upon the resumption of the site of the golf driving range in Cheung Sha Wan, another site in the urban area on short-term tenancy for constructing a golf driving range, of the progress of the Government in following up the proposal; and
(d) whether the authorities will allocate a site in the Multi-purpose Sports Complex at Kai Tak (which is under initial planning) near the harbourfront areas of the Victoria Harbour, or in the proposed Metro Park in Kai Tak, for constructing a golf driving range, so as to enhance the promotion of golf as a sport and increase the attractiveness of the harbourfront areas on both sides of the Victoria Harbour?
Reply:
President,
(a) The Government supports the development of golf by allocating resources through various channels. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) organises golf training courses, fun days and competitions in districts and through the School Sports Programme to provide more golfing opportunities for members of the public. The LCSD also provides subvention to the Hong Kong Golf Association (HKGA) through the Sports Subvention Scheme to support the promotion and development of the sport. The subvention granted to the HKGA has increased year by year, and the relevant provisions for the past two and this financial year are as follows:
Year Total amount of subvention ($'000)
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2011-12 1,450
2012-13 1,560
2013-14 1,750
Programmes organised by the HKGA include participation in international sporting events and squad training, local competitions, training of officials, and attendance at sports conferences. Through the "M" Mark Scheme, the Government also helps the HKGA host the Hong Kong Open Golf Championship, which is an international event that attracts wide attention and media coverage.
(b) The LCSD provides four golf driving ranges for public hire - two outdoor facilities at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre and Wo Yi Hop Road Sports Ground, and two indoor golf driving ranges at Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Island East Sports Centre. The golf driving range at Tuen Mun Recreation and Sports Centre provides 91 driving bays, and the one at Wo Yi Hop Road Sports Ground is equipped with 15 driving bays. The two indoor golf driving ranges at Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Island East Sports Centre each provide three driving bays. The utilisation of these four facilities has not reached full capacity. Apart from the golf driving ranges provided by the LCSD, there are other golf driving ranges operated by non-profit-making and commercial organisations that are also available for public use.
The Government will monitor the development of golf and the supply of and demand for golf driving ranges, and take into account the views of community stakeholders, the District Councils and "national sports associations" in particular, on the development of sports facilities. Currently, the Government has no plans to build another golf driving range in the urban area.
(c) In response to golf driving range industry's request for the provision of short term usable land in the urban area, the Lands Department is trying to identify suitable sites and will liaise with the industry. As a general practice, the Lands Department will consider making available vacant Government land which is suitable for temporary use and has not been designated for a specific use or is not required for development in the near future through short-term tenancies in order to promote the effective use of land.
(d) As regards the Multi-purpose Sports Complex (MPSC) at Kai Tak, we are gauging views on the best mix of facilities for the complex. However, due to the limited amount of land available, we do not expect that the facilities at the MPSC will be able to cater for each and every sport.
Ends/Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:30
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