LCSD Opens Free Facilities on Oct 1 National Day via Balloting
RTHK · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced Monday that a wide range of paid facilities will be made available free of charge to the public on October 1, marking the 77th anniversary of National Day. The free offerings include indoor and outdoor recreational facilities, public swimming pools, and boats at water sports centres, as well as free admission to all LCSD museums and cultural venues. Applications for recreational facilities will be processed through a balloting system via the SmartPLAY platform, with results released the following day and remaining slots offered on a first-come-first-served basis.
Key Points
- Free facilities on October 1 include badminton courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, fitness rooms, tennis courts, and more
- Balloting applications open Tuesday, September 22, from midnight to 11:59pm through the SmartPLAY system
- Each applicant may select up to three facility options per application, with results announced Wednesday
- Remaining slots will be released Friday morning, with iAMSmart users and under-11 SmartPLAY users having priority access from 7am
- Public swimming pools require no advance booking; admission is granted on a first-come-first-served basis at pool entrances
- All LCSD museums and the Hong Kong Museum of Art will also open free of charge on National Day
- The Space Theatre at the Hong Kong Space Museum will screen five free planetarium shows, with ticket applications opening Tuesday at 10am
- The Hong Kong Museum of Art and Space Museum will close at 5pm to facilitate crowd control for the National Day fireworks display
Why It Matters
This annual initiative provides Hong Kong residents with affordable leisure opportunities during a major public holiday, encouraging participation in sports and cultural activities. The tiered booking system—combining balloting for peak slots with first-come-first-served options for remaining availability—aims to balance fairness and accessibility while managing high demand for popular facilities .
This annual initiative provides Hong Kong residents with affordable leisure opportunities during a major public holiday, encouraging participation in sports and cultural activities. The tiered booking system—combining balloting for peak slots with first-come-first-served options for remaining availability—aims to balance fairness and accessibility while managing high demand for popular facilities .