Lawmakers seek fairer access to Hong Kong's oversubscribed public gyms
Public gym induction courses in Hong Kong are 14 times oversubscribed, prompting lawmakers and industry figures to demand fairer access rules, online briefings, and penalties for no-shows, including higher fees for repeat offenders.
Applications for introductory fitness briefings at public gyms run by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) have exceeded capacity by 14 times, prompting calls from lawmakers and industry leaders to reform access rules and punish no-shows.
The surge in demand was highlighted in an Ombudsman announcement on Tuesday, which detailed severe oversubscription for introductory courses at LCSD gyms across the city.
Lawmaker Dennis Leung Tsz-wing suggested replacing monthly passes with multi-entry pass packages or capping daily bookings to ensure fair access. He also urged authorities to penalise users who repeatedly fail to show up by restricting their booking privileges, while expanding course capacity using the department's 87 district fitness coaches.
Gordon Yau Yick-chung, chairman of the investigative panel of the Hong Kong Fitness Guide, proposed modernising access by shifting mandatory briefings online through video tutorials and short quizzes. Yau also recommended recognising commercial and international coaching qualifications to streamline entry.
To address no-shows, Yau suggested financial penalties, such as raising monthly fees from HK$180 to HK$200 or higher for users who fail to attend two or three booked sessions without cancelling.