Editorial | Access to Hong Kong’s sports venues needs to be improved

Sport has, for many, provided a healthy and enjoyable escape from the stresses of the pandemic. The closure of facilities during times of crisis was difficult to bear. It is not surprising, then, that when venues began opening again in April, demand was high. The competition for bookings provided fertile ground for touts.

But this is not a new problem. It is 10 years since the Ombudsman highlighted widespread abuses of the booking procedure that has seen slots sold illicitly at inflated prices. The government has taken steps to improve access and combat touting. But the problem persists.

This month, tighter rules came into effect. Those who book facilities and fail to show up twice in 60 days will be banned from reserving slots for 90 days. Anyone found to have made an unauthorised transfer of a permit will be suspended for 360 days. Four people are now needed to sign for football pitches and must attend at the designated time. There are tighter checks on the identity of users. This follows other measures introduced in May, including opening the online advance booking service 15 minutes earlier than kiosks in a bid to beat so-called queuing gangs – people who are paid to queue up overnight for slots. But users still found popular facilities full as soon as booking opened.

A survey has been launched to gauge public views on proposed changes to the online booking system, shifting to a ballot-based arrangement rather than first-come, first-served. New arrangements are due next year. The authorities need to closely monitor the impact of these changes to ensure they are working. This problem has continued for far too long.

The ultimate solution is to provide more venues. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his policy address last month that a 10-year plan for the development of sports facilities will be mapped out. Officials should consider the recommendations of a consultancy report submitted last year. It proposed a more sophisticated, population-based, approach to the provision of facilities.

Access to venues needs to be improved. It is to be hoped that through fine-tuning of the booking system and provision of more facilities, sport will truly be available for all.