Use of Facilities Provided by Holders of Private Recreational Leases
Private Recreational Leases (PRLs) are special purpose leases granted to non-profit making organisations that provide facilities for sports and recreational purposes.
The rights and obligations of holders of PRLs are set out in their leases. One of the lease conditions requires that a leaseholder should make available specified facilities for the use of eligible outside bodies (EOBs)* for organising sports and recreational activities, subject to certain conditions. Holders of PRLs which were renewed in 2011 and 2012 should open up their sports facilities to eligible outside bodies for no less than 50 hours per month under the Open-up Schemes approved by the Government. The relevant lease requirement allows a degree of public use of the sports facilities of holders of PRLs so as to help promote the development of sports in Hong Kong.
The Government earlier completed a review on the policy on PRLs earlier and announced the relevant recommendations. As regards the opening-up of facilities, the Government will require holders of PRLs to further open up their sports facilities to the EOBs up to 30% of their total sports facility capacity, and partner with sports organisations to organise sports programmes that can be open for enrolment by individual members of the public with a minimum sports programme hours of 240 each month. In handling the leases which have expired or will soon expire, the Government will introduce relevant clauses in the new lease to implement the above requirement. Holders of PRLs are required to submit further open-up schemes for the consideration by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Only open-up schemes meeting the new policy requirements will be approved.
Open-up Schemes
The links below provide information on the details of approved Open-up Schemes (including sports activities available, fees and charges, opening time slots and contact details) covering a total of 50 venues operated by holders of PRLs:
Open-up Schemes for Eligible Outside Bodies
Additional Time Slots under Open-up Schemes for National Sports Associations (Representative Squads)
Although some holders of PRLs do not have the requirement of opening up their sports facilities to the EOBs for no less than 50 hours per month, they have drawn up voluntary open-up schemes. The link below provides information on the details of their voluntary open-up schemes (including sports facilities available, fees and charges, opening time slots and contact details). The information will be updated as and when necessary.
Voluntary Open-up Scheme for Eligible Outside Bodies
Any EOB which is interested in using any of the facilities operated by a holder of a PRL may contact the respective leaseholder or this Bureau (3509 7068 or 3509 7098) for enquiries. If EOBs wish to complain about the use of sports facilities operated by PRL holders, they can lodge their complaints to this Bureau.
* Eligible outside bodies refer to -
- Schools registered under the Education Ordinance;
- Non- governmental Organisations receiving subvention from the Social Welfare Department;
- Uniformed groups and youth organisations receiving subvention from the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau;
- “National sports associations” (NSAs) recognised by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and relevant International Federations; and sports organisations affiliated to the NSAs;
- District sports associations;
- the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation;
- the New Territories Regional Sports Association;
- Sports organiations supported by government departments; and
- Government departments.