Octopus cards can now be used for paying entrance fees at four public swimming pools on a trial scheme launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to provide greater convenience for swimmers.
Speaking at the launching ceremony at Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Paul Leung Sai-wah said: 'Four of the department's swimming pools - Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, Hammer Hill Road Leisure Pool, Morrison Hill Swimming Pool and Shing Mun Valley Swimming Complex - have been selected for the trial use of Octopus cards for a period of six months.'
Compared with inserting coins, Octopus provides faster transaction and saves swimmers time from queuing. Also, swimmers will not need to carry a lot of coins with them. At present, two Octopus card readers are installed at the turnstiles at the entrances of the four swimming pools for concessionary and full-rate admissions respectively.
Another officiating guest at the ceremony, Brian Chambers, acting chief executive officer and technical director of Creative Star, said: 'The popular Octopus card is now being extended beyond transport into recreational facilities. All a swimmer needs to do is to 'beep' his Octopus card on the reader at the turnstiles. The appropriate amount will be deducted from the card and the remaining value will be displayed accordingly.'
Should the trial prove to be successful, the department will consider extending the use of Octopus cards to all public swimming pools.