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Latest arrangements for LCSD public services
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     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (September 23) that, in view of the latest situation of COVID-19, more leisure venues will reopen from September 26 (Saturday). Some recreation and sports programmes will also resume from October 19 (Monday). Meanwhile, all public libraries and museums will resume normal opening hours from September 29 (Tuesday), and all performance venues will be opened for performances or activities with live audiences from October 1 (Thursday) onwards.

     Among the leisure venues, outdoor non-fee charging gateball courts will reopen on September 26. A limitation of sub-group activities/training with not more than four persons in each sub-group at the reopened gateball courts will be imposed. Each sub-group should be at least 1.5 metres apart.

     Processing and acceptance of individual and block booking applications for non-fee charging land recreation and sports facilities as well as block booking applications for fee charging land recreation and sports facilities are maintained. Processing and application for use of amphitheatres and non-fee charging leisure venues for non-designated use/sales activities are suspended until further notice.

     In addition, the LCSD will resume some recreation and sports programmes including training courses and fun days to be held at the indoor and outdoor venues, public swimming pools as well as water sports centres starting from October 19. Members of the public can make enrollments via the District Leisure Services Offices, leisure venues with Leisure Link Services, Leisure Link Internet services and self-service kiosks starting from October 5 (Monday). Details of programmes will be uploaded onto the LCSD website from September 28 (Monday) (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/programmes/programmeslist/districtsports/searchrsprog.php). Members of the public may also call 1823 or any District Leisure Services Offices for enquiries.

     Regarding cultural venues, all public libraries, their students' study rooms and all mobile libraries will resume normal opening hours from September 29 onwards. The LCSD will continue to implement precautionary measures, including admission by sessions to limit visitor flow and reduce seating capacity. Please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/index.html for details.

     As all book drop service, self-service library stations and all public libraries have reopened or will soon reopen, patrons should return their overdue items as soon as possible. The counting of overdue fines shall be resumed from October 19.

     All museums will resume normal opening hours on September 29. All museums will apply a quota to limit visitor flow. Public programmes (including the Cinema of the Hong Kong Film Archive) will resume gradually while children facilities will remain suspended.

     All of the LCSD's performance venues will be opened for performances or activities with live audiences from October 1 with special seating arrangements. The number of audience members in major facilities of the venues such as concert halls, theatres, auditoria, cultural activities halls and arenas will be limited to half of the original capacity. Consecutive seats will be limited to four and seats will be evenly distributed. For activities to be held in minor facilities of the performance venues such as rehearsal rooms, music/dance studios and lecture/conference/function rooms, no more than four participants including the instructor in a cluster can be conducted, with appropriate distance maintained between groups. The number of users in minor facilities will be limited to half of the original capacity in most cases. For details please refer to the notifications of individual venues. Audiences will need to wear their own masks in the venues. Box offices at the LCSD's performance venues will continue operating at special opening hours (from noon to 6.30pm daily or 30 minutes after commencement of URBTIX performances at the venue). Ticket dispensing machines will be operated during the opening hours of the respective venues.

     All instrumental music training classes, musicianship classes, and some outreach music courses organised by the Music Office will resume from October 5 onwards. The number of participants, including instructors within a class, will be limited to four or the maximum number of people as stipulated by the law. In light of public health considerations, both Chinese and Western wind instrumental classes will continue to be suspended until further notice.

     Visitors to facilities of libraries, museums, performance venues, and music centres will need to use hand sanitiser and will be subject to temperature checks before admission. They also need to wear their own masks. Children under 12 will only be allowed to enter libraries, museums and exhibition facilities when accompanied by an adult. Enhanced measures including cleaning and disinfection between sessions will be conducted.

     The LCSD will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the arrangements in a timely manner.
 
Ends/Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:18
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