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LCQ9: Play equipment in playgrounds
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     Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (June 22):

Question¡G

     It has been reported that last year, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) dismantled a tunnel slide which had been in use in Hong Kong Park for over 14 years on the ground that the relevant contractor could not provide the parts for the slide. After repeated calls from and a joint signature campaign on the Internet initiated by some members of the public, LCSD has indicated that the slide will be reprovisioned at its original location this year. Moreover, a survey has pointed out that quite a number of the existing play equipment in children's playgrounds is not only dilapidated, but also monotonous and boring (e.g. lacking equipment such as free-standing slides, swings, climbing frames), thus being unable to satisfy children's playing needs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) among the children's playgrounds currently managed by LCSD, the Housing Department and Link Asset Management Limited, of the respective numbers and percentages of those that provide free-standing (i) slides, (ii) swings and (iii) climbing frames;

(2) of the respective numbers of children's playgrounds in the territory installed with free-standing slides which are (i) two metres to less than three metres, (ii) three metres to less than four metres, and (iii) four metres or more in height at present, broken down by the location of the children's playgrounds and the department/organisation by which they are managed;

(3) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on February 24 of this year, the authorities said that they would consult the organisations and District Councils concerned on the designs of children's playgrounds and the play equipment provided therein, whether the authorities have conducted the consultation exercise; if they have, of the views collected by the authorities on issues relating to the characteristics of play equipment in children's playgrounds, as well as the delights and experiences of playing on such equipment; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the authorities conducted in the past five years dedicated studies and reviews in respect of improving the designs of children's playgrounds and the play equipment provided therein; if they did, of the details; if not, whether they will conduct such studies and reviews; and

(5) given that in quite a number of overseas places (e.g. the United States, Taiwan and Japan), large-scale and free-standing slides equipped with interesting features and characteristics are provided in their parks or playgrounds, attracting many parents to bring their children to such parks or playgrounds to play on the slides, whether the authorities will make reference to such practices and provide free-standing slides with innovative design in the children's playgrounds in various districts in Hong Kong?

Reply¡G

President,

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is committed to providing diversified play equipment in playgrounds for children of different ages to help balanced development of their mind and body through the opportunity of playing together and acquiring different skills.  As to public housing estates, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) is committed to providing residents with appropriate recreational facilities and open space having regard to demographic situation and planning requirements of individual public housing estates.  My reply to the five parts of the question is as follows:

(1) The LCSD currently manages 626 leisure venues with outdoor children's playgrounds, most of which provide multi-play equipment, comprising slides, swings, climbing frames, etc.  Some venues are provided with free-standing play equipment.  The respective numbers of venues provided with free-standing slides, free-standing swings and free-standing climbing frames are 43, 127 and 38, accounting for about 7 per cent, 20 per cent and 6 per cent of the venues respectively.

     The HA manages 175 housing estates, of which 41 are provided with free-standing slides, 42 with free-standing swings and 115 with free-standing climbing frames, accounting for about 23 per cent, 24 per cent and 66 per cent of the housing estates respectively.  The Government and the HA do not have information on the children's playgrounds managed by the Link Asset Management Limited (the Link).  We have searched the online documents of the Link in response to the question and found that no relevant information was available.

(2) There are a total of 54 free-standing slides in 43 venues managed by the LCSD, 42 of which are slides of two metres or less in height while the remaining is of two metres to three metres in height.  The LCSD does not provide free-standing slide of four metres or more in height at present.  The locations and heights of the slides are tabulated at Annex.
 
     The HA does not keep any record of slides in its housing estates with breakdown on their heights.

(3) As pointed out in our reply to a Legislative Council Member's question on February 24, 2016, the LCSD has kept in contact with concern groups of children's play equipment, and consulted the organisations and District Councils concerned on the designs of play equipment of children's playgrounds with a view of constant improvement.  Last year, with the support of LCSD, a non-government organisation held the Inclusive Play Space Design Ideas Competition, which used Tuen Mun Park as its competition site.  The LCSD has been liaising with the competition organiser and the concerned works department to incorporate feasible and applicable elements in the winning design to the Tuen Mun Park on a pilot basis.  The winner of the competition, the competition organiser and the District Council concerned have been consulted and given their support for our proposed preliminary design for the project.  The preliminary design has two main themes, featuring elements of water and sand, and incorporates fun components and themed facilities for children of different ages and abilities.  Facilities to be provided include Spinning Zone, Contour Play Zone, Reptile Paradise, Egg Hunter, Sensory Zone, Musical Zone and Flower Dew Plaza.  Through sand, water, light and shadow, play equipment that sways and spins, climbing frames and movable parts for knocking and touching, children can enjoy the fun while achieving a balanced development of their body and mind by acquiring different skills.

(4) and (5) As stated in part (3) above, the LCSD is now exploring ways to further improve facilities in its playgrounds by incorporating the ideas of the winners of the Inclusive Play Space Design Ideas Competition and implementing a pilot scheme to modernise the designs of children's playgrounds in Tuen Mun Park.  The LCSD will examine and draw reference from the findings of the pilot scheme, continue to keep in contact with the concern groups, and consult the organisations and District Councils concerned with a view to improving its playgrounds.

     To allow children of different ages to play together in the playgrounds and help them achieve balanced development through acquiring different skills, most of the playgrounds of the LCSD provide multi-play equipment.  When planning for, designing or replacing playground facilities, including free-standing slides, the LCSD and the works departments concerned will work out the overall design concepts for parks and provide appropriate children's play equipment after taking into account a host of factors, including the findings of the pilot scheme, the topographic features, site areas and physical environments of individual venues, the safety standard required, the needs of different users and the views of the District Councils concerned.

     In designing each public housing development, the HA will endeavour to consider facilities to suit users of all ages and physical abilities.  The recreational and fitness facilities must also comply with international safety standards to ensure users' safety.  In replacing or renovating playground facilities in existing public housing estates, the HA will take into account the situation of individual housing estates, size of the playgrounds, overall environmental planning, changes in age profile and the actual needs of the residents, etc.  The HA will also, through local consultation and monitoring of overall usage of the facilities, strike a balance amongst attractiveness, uniqueness and public safety of recreational facilities.

Ends/Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Issued at HKT 12:38

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