Frequently Asked Questions

SmartPLAY is a newly designed interactive computerised system, using the Internet as the main channel for booking of sports and recreation facilities, viewing of and enrolment in sports and recreation programmes.  New smart self-service stations are set up in about 240 sports and recreation venues under LCSD and newly designed mobile apps are rolled out for public convenience.  Apart from the basic booking function, the new system also provides a number of enhanced personalised functions, including notifications of emergency closure of venue and/or cancellation of sports and recreation programmes due to inclement weather.  Moreover, members of the public can also self check-in for sessions or programmes through the smart self-service stations at leisure venues.

Apart from the Internet services and new mobile apps, new smart self-service stations are launched at about 240 leisure venues of LCSD to facilitate facility booking of sports and recreation facilities, checking of and enrolment in sports and recreation programmes, and self check-in for the booked sessions and enrolled programmes by members of the public, etc.  Moreover, self check-in devices are available at most of the fee-charging leisure venues, including indoor sports centres, soccer pitches, swimming pools etc., for self check-in for the booked sessions and enrolled programmes by members of the public.

SmartPLAY is a newly designed interactive computerised system, using the Internet as the main channel for booking of sports and recreation facilities, viewing of and enrolment in sports and recreation programmes.  New smart self-service stations are set up in about 240 sports and recreation venues under LCSD and new mobile apps are rolled out for public convenience.  Apart from the basic booking function, SmartPLAY also provides a number of new functions:

• Enhanced functions for personalised services, including instant viewing of booking or enrolment records, keeping a personal profile with qualifications and eligibility information, receipt of useful information with respect to individual preferences (e.g. available sessions of facilities or remaining places of programmes) and system-generated notifications (e.g. emergency closure of venues due to inclement weather and/or cancellation of programmes);
• Provision of more user-friendly search functions to facilitate search of preferred sports and recreation facilities for booking and viewing of and enrolment in sports and recreation programmes;
• Cover booking of more sports and recreation facilities, including about 800 non-fee charging hard-surface soccer pitches, 45 swimming pools and 25 sports grounds;
• Acquisition of Fitness Room Monthly Ticket and Swimming Pool Monthly Ticket through the Internet, smart self-service stations provided at more than 240 sports and recreation venues and mobile apps;
• Self check-in for sessions or programmes at the smart self-service stations or self check-in devices provided at sports and recreation venues;
• Provision of more diversified electronic services, including submission of e-Application form for various facility bookings or refund application and e-payment; and
• Submission of e-Application form for specific refund through mobile apps, the Internet and smart self-service stations anytime and anywhere.

SmartPLAY is a new system for venue booking and programme enrolment, further facilitating members of the public (including people with disabilities) to book sports and recreation facilities and enrol in programmes, thereby encouraging them to exercise regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle.  SmartPLAY is also designed to accommodate the special needs of people with disabilities to facilitate their use of the system.  For instance, space is reserved in the design of the base of smart self-service station for use by wheelchairs and the screen can be adjusted to the level of wheelchair users.  In making online enquiries and bookings, members of the public can choose larger font sizes for legibility, etc.  Moreover, LCSD will strive to ensure that the website of the new system conforms to Level AA standard of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 of Wide Web Consortium (W3C).  If certain webpages fail to fully meet the Level AA standard, such as containing plenty of multimedia content and some system-generated PDF files, we will strive to ensure that such content will not prevent users from accessing the important information on the website.

LCSD aims to provide the public with quality booking and information services.  Only registered SmartPLAY user can use a variety of personalised services.  Moreover, all users are required to authenticate their identity upon registration in order to activate their account.  This can prevent people from engaging in touting activities by using forged proof of identity or applying as registered user with personal data of other person.  

All Hong Kong residents may register as SmartPLAY users to use the system.  The department also accepts registration of tourists with permission to stay in Hong Kong as temporary users to use the system within a defined period of time.  

Allowing members of the public to register an account in the new system through mobile apps or the Internet is meant to facilitate user registration in the system anytime and anywhere without restriction in time and location.  They can still update the personal information in the new account prior to identity authentication at the smart self-service station.  As some people used the copy of forged Hong Kong identity card or other’s identity card to register as Leisure Link patron, to avoid similar incidents, under the user registration of the new system, applicants are required to complete identity authentication with the original copy of Hong Kong identity card at the smart self-service station before activating their account.  

The SmartPLAY system accepts registration as SmartPLAY user by holder of Hong Kong identity card with digital identity under “iAM Smart”.  Users can auto-fill in the stored personal data in the application form of the new smart system with the function of “e-ME” Form Filling under “iAM Smart” and verify their user identity for convenient booking of sports and recreation facilities and enrolment in sports and recreation programmes of LCSD.  Users can also log into the SmartPLAY system by verification through “iAM Smart”.  

SmartPLAY verifies the identity of user applicants and hirers in a more effective way.  Hirers are required to register as user beforehand and must be one of the users of the booked facilities.  Applicants can apply for registration as a SmartPLAY user through the Internet, mobile apps and the smart self-service stations, and can instantly register as user if they perform identity authentication through the “iAM Smart” app. 

Applicants who choose to submit application through the Internet or mobile apps are required to produce a copy of Hong Kong identity card for verification by LCSD’s staff.  In addition to enhancing the function of uploading the image of identity card through the Internet, to further verify user identity, applicants are also required to perform authentication through the smart self-service stations.  To prevent the use of forged identity document for registration as user, LCSD will seek assistance from the government departments concerned in confirming the information of applicant.  Besides, applicants can register as user and authenticate their identity instantly through the smart self-service stations with a valid identity card.  The identity card reader installed at the smart self-service stations can authenticate identity card.  Applicants can register as user instantly after verification by the system.

SmartPLAY will not store excessive personal data of the public.  Members of the public are only required to provide their names, Hong Kong identity card numbers, telephone numbers and email addresses (only for applicants registering through the Internet and mobile apps) for registration as users of the new smart system.  The image files of identity documents uploaded onto the new smart system for registration will be deleted regularly upon completion of registration, and will not be stored in the system.  Other personal information provided for registration will only be used for booking of facilities and enrolment in sports and recreation programmes, or for contact in respect of user services and service support requests.  All personal data of users stored in the system are managed by government staff and inaccessible to the contractor.  Such data are also stored in a local data centre owned by the Government and protected by multiple security measures to prevent leakage.  

Registered SmartPLAY users can use the system.  Non-registered users can only make on-the-spot bookings of the available sessions at booking counters 15 minutes before the session starts.  

Members of the public are advised to prepare the following documentation beforehand to ensure smooth registration as a SmartPLAY user:

1.    The file size limit of an image file of the Hong Kong identity card or other identity documents (Certificate of Birth/Document of Identity for Visa Purposes/Re-entry Permit/Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao) is 5MB (the accepted file formats: jpg, bmp, gif, pdf, png).  (Certificate of Birth/ Document of Identity for Visa Purposes/Re-entry Permit/Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao are only applicable to applicants under the age of 11)
2.    The “iAM Smart” mobile app already in use (applicable to application via “iAM Smart”) 
3.    Personal mobile device with photo-taking function (applicable to application via mobile app)
4.    Email address, correspondence address and contact phone number

Applicants under 18 years old are required to provide information of their parents or guardians.  Parents or guardians must be registered SmartPLAY user of more than 18 years of age, and are required to log into the SmartPLAY system for authentication.

To protect SmartPLAY users under 18 years old, the identity of their parents/guardians can only become valid after authentication as parents/guardians can make declarations for booking aquatic facilities/enrolling in sports and recreation programmes/competitions and sign in for programmes through mobile apps on behalf of minor users.  In case of emergency, LCSD also needs to contact their parents/guardians immediately.

No.  Users should manage their accounts properly and are not allowed to share-use their accounts with others and disclose to others their user numbers and passwords.  Users are advised to change their passwords every three months.

No. SmartPLAY only accepts registration with the same Hong Kong identity card.  The system will authenticate each application to ensure that an account can only be registered with one Hong Kong identity card number.

Users who lost or forgot their SmartPLAY user number or password may use the “Forgot user number or password” function in the login page of SmartPLAY through the Internet or mobile apps to reset password or retrieve user number.  Users may also retrieve their user number or password directly from their personal account with Hong Kong identity card through the smart self-service stations.

Members of the public can call SmartPLAY enquiry hotline (tel: 3954 5150) from 7 am to 11 pm from Monday to Sunday.  LCSD also accepts application for SmartPLAY Temporary User registration from visitors permitted to stay in Hong Kong. Their registration is valid in accordance with the permitted stay period of the visit or for 6 months.  Applicants are required to apply in person at the SmartPLAY Leisure Link Services Centre and produce a valid photo-bearing travel document for verification by LCSD’s staff. Each visitor can only apply for one temporary user registration. Application for temporary user registration with HKSAR Passport or passport of other nationality (including the British National (Overseas) Passport issued by the British Government) by Hong Kong residents will not be accepted.

The office hours of the SmartPLAY Leisure Link Services Centre for handling SmartPLAY Temporary User application are from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays).

Address: 5M/F, Kwun Chung Municipal Services Building, 
17 Bowring Street, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Enquiry telephone number: 2194 5255
Email address: enquiries@lcsd.gov.hk

To ensure protection of personal data, LCSD’s staff (including staff at service counters) do not have the authority to change the personal data in user’s account.  If users encounter problems in inputting or updating their personal data, they may call the SmartPLAY enquiry hotline (tel: 3954 5150).  Venue staff may also demonstrate the use of smart self-service stations at the venues or mobile apps to update personal data. 

In accessing the new system via “iAM Smart”, users are required to log in with the same real names and mobile phone numbers used in registration for “iAM Smart”, in a bid to prevent touts from booking sports and recreation facilities with other “iAM Smart” users’ identity.

Yes, the major functions of the LLS including facility booking, enrolment in sports and recreation programmes, booking record enquiry, application for balloting for allocation of football pitches, holiday camp booking, payment for sports and recreation programmes through balloting and user information enquiry, etc. are retained in the new SmartPLAY system.  In addition to the retention of the functions of the LLS, the new system provides a number of convenient services such as instant registration of personal accounts and self-service check-in for facility sessions or programmes, etc. 

For members of the public who have become Leisure Link patrons before 26 June 2023, their account information will be automatically transferred to SmartPLAY after registration of SmartPLAY account and authentication of identity.  Leisure Link patrons can instantly activate their SmartPLAY account after activation and authentication with Hong Kong identity card at the smart self-service stations at leisure venues, or activate their new account by confirming their account information through the Internet and mobile apps and performing identity authentication with the original copy of their identity card at the smart self-service stations.  Besides, members of the public can also activate their SmartPLAY account instantly by confirming their identity in web and mobile apps through “iAM Smart”.  For Leisure Link temporary patrons, the validity period of their accounts will expire when the Leisure Link system ceases operation.  They must go to the SmartPLAY Service Center to register as SmartPLAY temporary users after the launch of SmartPLAY.