*****************************************
Individuals who fail to take up their booked sessions (a "no-show") on two occasions within 30 consecutive days will be barred from making advance booking of all recreational and sports facilities for 90 days starting from August 15, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (June 30).
The new penalty for individual hirers follows the implementation of a tightened no-show penalty on organisation hirers which came into effect on June 1 early this year, whereby organisation hirers will be penalised by suspending their priority booking status for six months if they fail to take up their booked sessions on two occasions within 12 months, as opposed to four occasions within 12 months in the old system.
Apart from the no-show penalty, an individual hirer who has been found to engage in unauthorised transfer or touting of user permits will face a tougher penalty of suspension of booking rights for 180 days. In addition, a non-eligible person who has abused the half-rate concession for senior citizens, students and the disabled in making bookings is liable to the same penalty.
The new initiative was introduced in response to the recommendations of The Ombudsman on improving the booking mechanism for recreation and sports facilities.
"Public demand for recreation and sports facilities has always been keen. The new measure is aimed at minimising wastage of resources while combating abuse," the spokesman said.
The spokesman urged members of the public who do not want to have their booking rights affected to cancel their bookings as soon as they are aware that they cannot take up a booked session.
Cancellation can be made conveniently through the Leisure Link Internet booking system if the hirer has already registered as a Leisure Link patron. If the hirer is yet to become a Leisure Link patron, the hirer has to submit his or her cancellation request at any booking counter of the leisure venues at least two days in advance of the date of using the facilities. Cancelled sessions will not be refunded.
For details of the new penalty measures, please browse the LCSD webpage at www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ls_fac_improve.php or contact the staff of the Leisure Link booking counters.
Ends/Monday, June 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:01
NNNN
