LCQ10: Lei Yue Mun Park
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Question:
The Working Group on Developing Tourist Hotspots led by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration announced last month the implementation of nine new tourist hotspot projects. There are views that the Lei Yue Mun Park, a holiday camp located in Chai Wan under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which covers an area of nearly 23 hectares and offers fine views overlooking Lei Yue Mun Channel, has great potential to become one of the next tourist hotspots to attract tourists. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of visits to the Park in each of the past three years, together with a breakdown by type of booking (i.e. residential camp and day camp);
(2) of the respective staffing expenses and other administrative costs incurred in operating the Park in each of the past three years;
(3) as it is learnt that the basketball court and football pitch of the Park remain close to date due to temporary quarantine camps set up there during the pandemic which are yet to be demolished, when the Government will reopen these facilities for public use;
(4) of the reasons why the catering services at the canteen and the fast food kiosk of the Park remain suspended since November 21 last year, and when the catering services will resume;
(5) given that the Park is all along accessible only to members of the public who book the holiday camp, whether there are other means through which non-local tourists may gain access to the Park to visit the monuments therein; whether it has formulated special plans or promotional measures at present to attract tourists to visit the Park; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(6) as there are views that while the Park houses a number of historic buildings of significant value, its operating mode fails to keep pace with changes in people's lifestyles over the years since it came into operation as early as 1988, and its facilities have become dilapidated and unappealing, whether the authorities have considered plans to enhance the attractions in the Park; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(7) whether it has considered repositioning the Park by upgrading it into one of the next tourist hotspots, so as to provide more recreational space for locals while attracting more visitors, thereby achieving better operational efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments, my consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
(1) In the past three years, the attendances at the Lei Yue Mun Park of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are tabulated below:
| 2022 (Note 1) | 2023 | 2024 | |
| Attendance at day camp (Note 2) | 16 383 | 47 213 | 47 474 |
| Attendance at evening camp | 3 068 | 7 182 | 4 976 |
| Attendance at residential camp | 13 746 | 34 615 | 34 492 |
| Total attendance | 33 197 | 89 010 | 86 942 |
Note 2: The holiday camp offers day camps, residential camps and evening camps with the following check-in schedules:
day camp: 9.30am to 4.30pm;
evening camp: 4.30pm to 10.30pm; and
residential camp: 2.30pm to 1pm on check-out day.
(2) In the past three financial years, the operational expenses of the Park are tabulated below:
| 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | |
| Staff expenses ($ million) | 12 | 16 | 17 |
| Other expenses (Note 3) ($ million) | 21 | 16 | 19 |
| Total amount | 33 | 32 | 36 |
(3) To combat COVID-19, quarantine/isolation facilities were put in place at the cycling area and grass pitch of the Park during the epidemic. With the full resumption of normalcy in society and taking into account the needs of epidemic prevention, the LCSD has requested and proactively followed up with relevant departments. The preparatory work for demolition and facility restoration has commenced with a view to restoring the original recreational facilities and re-opening them for public use as early as practicable.
(4) As the former contractor of the general restaurant and fast food kiosk in the Park breached the contract terms by defaulting on rent payments, the LCSD terminated the relevant catering contract with effect from November 21, 2024. The LCSD is now conducting tendering exercise for the operation of general restaurant and fast food kiosk in the Park. It is expected that the catering services will resume in early July this year.
(5), (6) and (7) Both citizens and tourists can access facilities at the Park or other LCSD holiday camps by making reservations for residential, day or evening camps. To attract more visitors to the Park, the LCSD regularly organises programmes with special themes. In the past year, festive activities (such as Mid-Autumn Festival), new sports programmes (such as mölkky, floor curling and pickleball), heritage guided tours, as well as horticultural and greening promotion activities were held with a view to enhancing the attractiveness of the Park.
The LCSD has been carrying out maintenance, refurbishment and enhancement works for its facilities. There are a number of historical buildings in the Park, including the existing Coffee Corner, the Recreation Block, the Assembly Hall and multiple residential camp blocks. The LCSD, in collaboration with the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD), will consult the Antiquities and Monuments Office on maintenance and repair works with a view to enhancing the relevant facilities while ensuring the proper preservation and conservation of the historic buildings. For instance, the ArchSD completed the refurbishment of the Horticultural Centre and the Assembly Hall (available for rental as wedding venue) in 2024, enhancing the functional versatility of the facilities.
Ends/Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:54
Issued at HKT 11:54
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