LCSD's Subvention Scheme for New Sports in year 2025-26 opens for application from today
To implement the policy measure relating to boosting sports promotion in the community as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will regularise the Pilot Scheme on Subvention for New Sports and launch the Subvention Scheme for New Sports (SSNS) in 2025-26 for application by eligible sports organisations. The measure will support the long-term development of new sports. The SSNS is open for application from today (December 5) until January 13, 2025.
The SSNS follows the modes of operation of the Pilot Scheme to provide subvention to local sports organisations for promoting new sports on a project base. Each successful applicant sports organisation will be offered a maximum of $200,000 ($180,000 for the year 2024-25), or 85 per cent of the total eligible expenditure of the individual activity, whichever is lower.
A sports organisation wishing to apply for the subvention must be a non-profit-making organisation with Articles of Association registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). The new sport under application must be distinct from the sports/disciplines currently solely governed by national sports associations under the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. The applicant organisation must also be recognised by and affiliated to the international federation, Asian federation, regional federation or recognised by the General Administration of Sport of China, and have successful experience in organising sports development programmes of various levels and types with active public participation in the past two-year period of 2023 to 2024.
Applicant sports organisations will also need to provide a comprehensive long-term development and promotion plan, as well as relevant information on their competency in organising and arranging programmes. A well-established governance structure with transparent and accountable policies should also be in place and widely recognised by the sports sector.
Priority will be given to the sports organisations that have never received subvention from the Pilot Scheme. If applicant sports organisations have previously received subvention from the Pilot Scheme, the LCSD will take into consideration their past performance and records when vetting their applications.
For enquiries, please contact the Sports Funding Office of the LCSD at 2601 8756 or email ssns@lcsd.gov.hk. Please visit the LCSD's website(www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/programmes/programmeslist/sss/ssns.html) for details.
LCSD launches special edition of Museum Pass
With the Chinese New Year approaching, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) launched a special edition of the Museum Pass today (January 13) to celebrate the Year of the Snake with museum lovers. There are two designs for the special edition, one with the LCSD's mascots, Enggie Pup and Artti Kitty, in new-year costume, and a collection from the Hong Kong Heritage Museum - "Year of the Snake Calendar Design" by renowned Hong Kong designer and artist Hon Bing-wah. The design reinterprets the beauty of traditional Chinese culture through the vibrant imagery of a golden snake and blooming plum blossoms. The special edition designs are only applicable to the physical Museum Pass. It is now available for sale at designated LCSD museums (Note 1), while stocks last.
A Museum Pass is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The annual fees for the family pass, individual pass and concessionary pass (full-time students, persons with disabilities and senior citizens aged 60 or above) are $100, $50 and $25 respectively. There is a 10 per cent discount on the Museum Pass for Hong Kong Ocean Park Annual Membership holders and Hong Kong Disneyland "Magic Access" holders during the promotional period (Note 2).
During the validity period of the Museum Pass, holders can make unlimited visits to the fee-charging permanent and special exhibitions of LCSD museums, including the new exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Cézanne and Renoir Looking at the World - Masterpieces from the Musée de l'Orangerie and the Musée d'Orsay" to be launched from January 17 (Friday). The exhibition is the first large-scale exhibition of the two Impressionist masters Cézanne and Renoir in Hong Kong, showcasing 52 masterpieces from the two museums in France.
Museum Pass holders can enjoy an array of exclusive fringe benefits offered by LCSD partners. For museum partners, new offers provided by the GuWei Museum include a general admission ticket at a discounted price of $30; a 10 per cent discount on purchases at its Gift Corner, consumption and rental of event space at its Museum Coffee Shop; and 10 to 20 per cent discounts for joining its education programmes. The Hong Kong Maritime Museum also offers a 50 per cent discount for the adult ticket, while the CHAT Shop in The Mills offers a 5 per cent shopping discount.
For theme parks, Museum Pass holders can enjoy a 10 per cent discount on the published price of the Ocean Park Annual Membership, and a special discount on any General, Child, Student or Senior Magic Access of the Hong Kong Disneyland Park.
For performing arts programmes, Museum Pass holders can enjoy a 10 per cent discount on standard tickets for the Hong Kong Dance Company's main stage productions, "Storm Clouds" and "The Kids In Rainbow Jerseys 2.0", at the URBTIX outlets as well as the merchandise at the performance venue.
Museum Pass holders can also enjoy discounts on purchases of LCSD souvenirs and publications at the gift or book shops of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Science Museum and the Hong Kong Space Museum; and participation in the fee-charging activities organised by the museums (e.g. educational programmes). Moreover, the Alchemist Cafe in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum offers a 10 per cent dining discount.
For details and terms of the Museum Pass as well as the latest benefits, please visit the webpage www.museums.gov.hk/en/web/portal/museum-pass.html and the relevant partners' websites.
Note 1: The Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of History, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Hong Kong Space Museum, and the Hong Kong Museum of the War of Resistance and Coastal Defence Museum.
Note 2: The discounted fee of each Museum Pass will be rounded up to the nearest dollar.
