Swimming pool complexes to open from April 1 for new swimming season
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 31) that for the upcoming swimming season, 44 public swimming pool complexes will open for public use tomorrow (April 1). Individual swimming pools to be temporarily closed in specified periods in 2026 for maintenance works are set out in the Annex. Swimmers should mind their safety, care for themselves and others, and keep the swimming pools clean and hygienic while enjoying the fun of swimming.
From April to October, LCSD swimming pools will open daily from 6.30am to 10pm in three sessions with two one-hour breaks. Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open daily from 8.30am to 6pm in two sessions (and in one session from 7pm to 10pm on Fridays (Note)).
For the 19 pool complexes with both heated and non-heated swimming facilities, the heated facilities will continue to open from April 1 to 15. The non-heated facilities will open for public use from April 16.
The 19 swimming pool complexes are:
Hong Kong Island:
District |
Swimming Pool Complex |
-------- |
----------------------- |
Central and Western |
Kennedy Town Swimming Pool |
Wan Chai |
Morrison Hill Swimming Pool |
Kowloon:
District |
Swimming Pool Complex |
-------- |
----------------------- |
Kowloon City |
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool |
Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool |
Wong Tai Sin |
Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool |
Morse Park Swimming Pool |
Kwun Tong |
Kwun Tong Swimming Pool |
Sham Shui Po |
Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool |
Yau Tsim Mong |
Kowloon Park Swimming Pool |
New Territories:
District |
Swimming Pool Complex |
-------- |
----------------------- |
Islands |
Tung Chung Swimming Pool |
North |
Fanling Swimming Pool |
Sha Tin |
Hin Tin Swimming Pool |
Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool |
Tsuen Wan |
Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool |
Tuen Mun |
Tuen Mun Swimming Pool |
Tuen Mun North West Swimming Pool |
Yuen Long |
Yuen Long Swimming Pool |
Tin Sau Road Swimming Pool |
Sai Kung |
Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool |
To maintain the hygiene of public swimming pools, each pool will be closed for a thorough cleaning once a week, in addition to the regular daily cleaning. The thorough cleaning will be conducted on a designated weekday (Monday to Friday) from 10am to the end of the second session. If the designated day falls on a public holiday, the cleaning will be rescheduled to another weekday in the same week.
To ensure a clean environment for public swimming pools, swimmers should maintain personal hygiene and observe the pool rules, including the following points:
(a) Swimmers should shower before entering the pool deck;
(b) Swimmers should walk through the shower bath and footbath;
(c) Swimmers should not go swimming if they feel unwell and should seek medical consultation early;
(d) Swimmers are advised to use the toilet before swimming and should not urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they have to vomit; and
(e) Parents should teach their children about the importance of maintaining personal and public hygiene.
Holders of the public swimming pool monthly ticket are encouraged to apply for monthly ticket smart cards, which are printed with the card holder's photo and preloaded with information on the validity period. The smart cards enable holders to enter the pools easily and conveniently without having to produce documentary proof of identity. Interested monthly ticket holders can apply for smart cards free of charge. For details, please visit the webpage www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swim-ticket.html.
For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleaning operations of public swimming pools, please visit the webpagewww.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swimlocation.html.
Note: Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open from 8.30am to 6pm in two sessions on April 3 (public holiday).
Source: AI-found images
Government to extend Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of Hospital Authority in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
The Health Bureau announced today (March 31) the extension of the Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the Hospital Authority in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Pilot Scheme) for one year until March 31 next year, with a view to enabling eligible patients of the Hospital Authority (HA), i.e. patients with scheduled follow-up appointments at designated Specialist Out-patient Clinics or Family Medicine Clinics of the HA, to choose to receive subsidised consultation services at the designated collaborating healthcare institution in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Launched on May 10, 2023, the Pilot Scheme aims to provide an additional service option for eligible HA patients, and is currently applicable to the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH). As of end-February this year, more than 6 000 eligible patients have participated in the Pilot Scheme, with more than 60percent being elderly aged 65 or above. According to a patient survey conducted by the HKU-SZH in November last year, over 90 per cent of the respondents found its services satisfactory. The Government and the HA will evaluate the effectiveness and scope of services of the Pilot Scheme each year and make necessary adjustments in a timely manner.
Under the extended Pilot Scheme, if an eligible HA patient incurs a medical fee of RMB100 or above for each consultation received at the designated out-patient clinic of the HKU-SZH, the patient (except for specified persons who are medical fee waiver holders as verified by the HA) will be required to co-pay RMB100, while the remaining medical fee will be subsidised by the Pilot Scheme, subject to a cap of RMB2,000 per year. The validity period of the relevant subsidy is from tomorrow (April 1) to March 31 next year.
The scope of subsidised consultation services under the Pilot Scheme will continue to cover out-patient services provided by the HA, namely anaesthesiology (pain clinic only); cardiothoracic surgery; clinical oncology; ear, nose and throat; eye; gynaecology; internal medicine; neurosurgery; obstetrics; orthopaedics and traumatology (orthopaedics); paediatrics; surgery; and family medicine out-patient services. Episodic illnesses, inpatient or day inpatient, as well as Accident and Emergency services are not included under the scope of subsidised consultation services. Eligible HA patients are required to attend at the service departments of the HKU-SZH that correspond with the HA's out-patient service categories for which they have medical follow-up to receive subsidised consultation services.
Existing patients of the Pilot Scheme who wish to continue participating in the Scheme may make appointments through the existing channels whereby the HKU-SZH will make appointments at the departments that correspond with the HA's out-patient service categories for which they have follow-up appointments. They should also complete the declaration to confirm continued participation at the HKU-SZH before receiving any subsidised consultation services. For patients who wish to cease participation in the Pilot Scheme and return to Hong Kong for follow-up consultations at the out-patient clinics of the HA, they may approach the HKU-SZH and the hospital will make a referral for them to arrange follow-up appointments at the corresponding out-patient clinics of the HA according to their clinical needs.
As for eligible HA patients who have not participated in the Pilot Scheme before or those who have joined the Scheme but need to have their personal information updated, they may submit their application to the HKU-SZH from tomorrow.
All HA patients participating in the Pilot Scheme are required to register with eHealth. Prior to their consultations at the HKU-SZH, patients may, as necessary, apply for their electronic health records deposited in eHealth over the past three years through the "Cross-boundary Health Record" function on the eHealth mobile application and authorise healthcare professionals to access such records during consultations to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. After consultations, patients may also use the "Personal Folder" function to deposit their medical records from the HKU-SZH to their personal eHealth account for centralised storage and usage, including allowing authorised Hong Kong healthcare institutions to access during follow-up care.
Details will be uploaded to the websites of the HA and the HKU-SZH later for public reference. For enquiries, citizens may also call the HA (Tel: 2300 7070; Service Hours: 9am - 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays) or the HKU-SZH (Tel: (+86) 0755-86913101; Service Hours: 8am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 5.30pm, Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays).
Source: AI-found images
