Ombudsman Jack Chan has announced a direct investigation into how the Leisure and Cultural Services Department manages its 87 indoor fitness rooms. The inquiry will examine both the requirements people must meet before registering and how bookings are handled as demand for the facilities rises.
Most people need a relevant qualification recognised by the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, or must first attend a three-hour department briefing and pass a written test. The alternative is a 12-hour fitness training course with at least 80% attendance. People who cannot get a place on the required briefing or course cannot register to use the rooms.
The Ombudsman’s Office preliminary inquiry found that in 2025 the department offered about 25,000 places at briefing sessions and received 377,000 applications. Its training courses had 58,500 places against 257,000 applications.
Use of the rooms also increased: registered users rose from about 151,000 in 2023 to 236,000 in 2025, while annual visits climbed from about 4.852 million to 7.262 million. Chan said the qualification or course requirement, coupled with the shortage of places, may be a major barrier to wider participation. He noted that swimming, another sport with risks, has no similar requirement.
The investigation will also look at bookings by monthly pass holders. Since November 2024, they have had to reserve sessions through SmartPlay and can cancel up to an hour beforehand. The Ombudsman’s Office says there is no penalty for missing a booking and no daily booking limit. Late cancellations can leave too little time for someone else to take up a released slot, and actual attendance can fall below the number of bookings.
The inquiry will cover the eligibility rules, booking arrangements, room utilisation, monitoring and equipment maintenance. Chan said the Ombudsman would make recommendations where necessary; the office invited written comments by 13 November 2026.