Although the public can use the jogging trails, barbecues and football field, they need to seek approval from staff in advance, who may reject the request because members were the priority users.

It is not easy to become a member. One has to attend several soul-searching religious sessions and face an interview. 'The application form is not available to anyone,' Miss Mak said. On the form, one is required to believe in the humanitarian, peaceful and cultural principles before membership is approved.

In a response to the Post, Soka Gakkai's vice-chairman Chan Ping-sang denied staff would impose restrictions on public users. 'Applications for use have nothing to do with religious beliefs. We are providing the public space as an obligation.'

However, Mr Chan admitted that the venue was frequently used by members on weekends. Other groups have to book in advance.

The Tai Po District Lands Office confirmed that the lease conditions allowed the Soka Gakkai to give priority to members over public users. 'But theoretically they cannot run a booking system for the public,' the office's estate surveyor, Frederick Ko Wing-fai, said.

Town Planning board member Ng Cho-nam said public space could be exploited by groups who manage it. He said letting social and private sectors manage public space as a means of achieving better planning could create a grey area. 'If they [the private sector] are taking advantage of the space, the public can be benefitting little [from this policy],' he said.

Architect Vincent Ng Wing-shun said groups should not screen people from using public open space. 'If the planning intention was to let the public use the place, people are disadvantaged if they are deprived of the opportunity to use it,' he said.

The Soka Gakkai was among five private developments containing public open spaces identified by the Development Bureau yesterday. The bureau first released a list of privately managed public spaces in April.

In Kowloon Tong's Cornwall Street, public space is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A visit to the area yesterday was greeted with indifference. A staff member said it was used for church gatherings and he was annoyed by outsiders who smoked in the area.

In a terraced area near the Starcrest residential development in Wan Chai, there is no sign indicating it is public open space.

Resident Sunny Wong, 30, said: 'It is not logical for us to pay for the maintenance as it is a public area.'

An Indonesian domestic worker said: 'I think it belongs to the western restaurant nearby. I saw someone place a table there for a drink on some Friday nights.'

The same dissatisfaction was found among residents of Kennedy Town's La Maison Du Nord. A sign reads 'public open space' in the park near the building, but forbids users from cycling, hawking, smoking and walking their dogs.

Open and shut cases

Locations of selected new public open spaces added to the list

Botania Villa

2,900 sq metres

138 Fuk Hang Tsuen Rd, Tuen Mun

Open from 6am-7pm

Soka Gakkai International of Hong Kong Cultural and Recreational Centre

7,000 sq metres

33 Shan Nam Rd, Tai Po

Open from 10am to 4, 5 or 6pm, varying with seasons and weekdays

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Hong Kong China Temple

583 sq metres

2 Cornwall St, Kowloon Tong

Open at all times

Lai Maison Du Nord

359 sq metres

12 North St, Kennedy Town

Open at all times

Starcrest

1,100 sq metres

9 Star St, Wan Chai

Open at all times