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The cycling track and arena of the Hong Kong Velodrome (HKV) in Tseung Kwan O will be opened for public use on April 30 and advance booking can be made via the Leisure Link System (LLS) starting from tomorrow (April 21), a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said today (April 20).
"To ensure the safety of the users and the proper use of the cycling track, all hirers and users must possess a track pass issued by the LCSD," the spokesman said.
The following categories of riders may apply to the LCSD for track passes:
(a) Inexperienced riders who have attended and passed the track cycling training course organised by the LCSD or the Hong Kong Cycling Association (HKCA);
(b) Experienced riders who have attended and passed the track pass workshop organised by the HKCA;
(c) Riders possessing equivalent qualification(s) issued by an organisation recognised by the HKCA; and
(d) Members of the Hong Kong Cycling Team who joined after 2000.
"The LCSD and the HKCA will organise regular track cycling training courses for interested members of the public to enable them to obtain track passes. Details of these courses will be announced separately," the spokesman added.
There are two types of hiring arrangements for using the cycling track, namely "exclusive use" and "shared use".
Under the "exclusive use" arrangement, a hirer will have the exclusive right to use the whole cycling track during the hired session for training or practice purposes. The hirer and all other users must be LCSD track pass holders and be supervised by a track supervisor or Level II Instructor (Track Cycling) recognised by the HKCA. The peak and non-peak hour charges for the "exclusive use" of the track are $800 and $560 per hour respectively.
To offer greater flexibility to individual track pass holders, the LCSD will arrange "shared use" sessions during which a maximum of 20 riders can be accommodated to share the use of the track concurrently under the supervision of qualified personnel engaged by the department. The peak and non-peak hour charges for a two-hour "shared use" session for each user are $110 and $80 respectively. The detailed booking arrangements for the "shared use" sessions will be announced in due course.
Apart from the cycling track, members of the public can also make advance booking of the arena of the HKV for badminton activities via the LLS starting from tomorrow. In view of the possible concurrent use of the cycling track and the infield arena and to avoid interfering with the cyclists' training, the department will only accept organisational bookings for conducting volleyball or basketball activities.
The ancillary facilities of the HKV including the activity rooms, dance room, table tennis room, fitness room and children's playroom have been opened for public use since January this year.
The HKV is located at 105-107 Po Hong Road, Tseung Kwan O. For information about the HKV's facilities, please browse the LCSD's webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/lsb/en/facilities.php?ftid=0&did=8 or make enquiries with venue staff at 2878 8622.
Ends/Sunday, April 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:00
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