Transitional arrangements of booking for LCSD's turf soccer pitches and non-fee charging recreation and sports facilities
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The detailed arrangements are as follows:
Balloting/booking of turf soccer pitches
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For the available sessions of turf soccer pitches on or before November 16, the existing arrangements of online balloting via Leisure Link will remain unchanged.
For the sessions of turf soccer pitches from November 17 to 21, online balloting will be suspended. After the implementation of SmartPLAY, available sessions within seven days from the current date will be open for booking from November 11 to 15 on a first-come, first-served basis (i.e. booking for the current date to November 17 can be made on November 11). Regarding the balloting for the available sessions of turf soccer pitches after November 22, users can submit a balloting application for available turf pitches via SmartPLAY's dedicated website and mobile app, or the Smart Self-service Stations at leisure venues within 14 to 20 days before using a facility. For the remaining sessions after balloting, if any, members of the public can make bookings of the available sessions within seven days on a first-come, first-served basis (please refer to Annex I for details).
Merging of online balloting application for turf soccer pitches and non-fee charging hard-surface ball courts
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At present, balloting applications for booking of non-fee charging recreation and sports facilities are handled by District Leisure Service Offices (DLSOs) in various districts. Users should submit their applications at least one calendar month before use. After the launch of SmartPLAY, most of these applications will be transferred to the new system for handling (Please refer to Annex II for details). Members of the public can book the sessions of non-fee charging hard-surface ball courts (including sports facilities for team games such as basketball courts, volleyball courts, handball courts, cricket grounds, hard-surface 7-a-side soccer pitches, hard-surface 5-a-side soccer pitches, gateball courts, netball courts, a roller hockey court, beach volleyball courts, beach handball courts, etc) after January 1, 2024.
During the transitional period, balloting applications for sessions in December will be allocated in accordance with the existing mechanism. Members of the public can submit balloting applications on or before October 31, or book the remaining sessions in December in advance in respective DLSOs on a first-come, first-served basis starting from November 20. Since November 1, respective DLSOs will no longer accept balloting applications of above-mentioned non-fee charging recreation and sports facilities.
Starting from December 13, the existing arrangements of booking of turf soccer pitches through online balloting will be combined with the balloting application for non-fee charging hard-surface ball courts for processing as a single application. By then, users can submit a balloting application for booking available sessions on the 20th date from the date of application at the soonest, until 11.59pm six days later. Each user can submit a total of three balloting choices in one application, including sessions of fee-charging turf soccer pitches and/or above-mentioned non-fee charging hard-surface ball courts on or after January 1, 2024. Applications submitted can be altered before closing of the application period. Sessions will be allocated by computer balloting on the day following the application deadline. For instance, users who wish to submit a balloting application for booking available sessions of facilities on January 1, 2024, can submit applications from December 13 to 19, 2023. The deadline will be 11.59pm on December 19. Sessions will be allocated by computer ballot on December 20. Members of the public can book the remaining sessions, if any, via SmartPLAY on a first-come, first-served basis within seven days. For booking of turf soccer pitches and non-fee charging hard-surface ball courts, either through balloting or on a first-come, first-served basis, a maximum of one session (90 minutes per session) and two sessions of the same kind of facilities (60 minutes per session) would be allowed respectively on a daily basis.
Apart from the above-mentioned transitional arrangements, new booking and check-in arrangements of turf soccer pitches will also be adopted. Currently, Leisure Link patrons must fill in the patron numbers of four other users when submitting balloting applications for turf soccer pitches. The hirer and three of the users named in the application must check in and be present during the use of the booked session. To further combat suspected touting activities, the above-mentioned arrangements will be extended to the booking of turf soccer pitches on a first-come, first-served basis after the launch of SmartPLAY on November 9.
The LCSD reminds the public that starting from November 9, all people, including the hirer of general facilities as well as the hirer and other users when submitting bookings for turf soccer pitches, must register with the new system and complete an identity authentication process before using the new system to enrol in programmes and book leisure facilities. Existing Leisure Link patrons must also re-register their accounts on the new system. The LCSD has provided 375 new Smart Self-service Stations at around 240 leisure venues (including DLSOs in various districts). Members of the public can submit their registration, and complete identity authentication and account activation procedures at these Smart Self-service Stations. As the registration for SmartPLAY will be suspended from November 6 to 8, members of the public are advised to complete registration and authentication on or before November 5 so that they can use the new system immediately after its implementation on November 9.
To encourage members of the pubic to register as users as soon as possible and exercise more, all users who have successfully registered as SmartPLAY users by November 5 and have completed authentication (including registered SmartPLAY users) are automatically entitled to enter the lucky draw with an opportunity to win a latest model smartphone or other prizes. Details of the promotional activity can be found on the website: smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk/website/en/news/10015.html.
For more information on SmartPLAY, please visit the SmartPLAY website (www.smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk), or call the SmartPLAY hotline at 3954 5150.
Ends/Monday, October 30, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:30
Issued at HKT 11:30
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