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Here are free government services and recreational programmes that you should take advantage of—because enjoying life in this expensive city doesn’t always have to cost a thing!
Living in a city often labelled as one of the most expensive places in the world can make the idea of finding anything “free” feel like a real stretch. Fortunately, there’s a silver lining! The Hong Kong government offers a range of free recreational services that admittedly we often overlook. While we all know about the mandatory benefits we’re entitled to, there are programmes and perks that often fly under the radar. In this article, we rounded up some free government services that you need to take advantage of—ASAP!
Read More: Kids’ Sports Classes In Hong Kong: Badminton, Rugby, Tennis & More
Free Use of Government Sports Facilities
Booking sports facilities can often come with a cost, but the great news is that the government offers certain public venues for free! The Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s (LCSD) Smart Play platform is your essential resource for booking any of the approximately 240 leisure venues available in Hong Kong. You can book via the website, mobile app or self-service stations dotted across Hong Kong. Slots are open throughout the day on an hourly basis—typically from 7am to 11am for morning sessions, 12nn to 4pm for afternoon sessions and 6pm to 9pm for evening reservations. Locking in a facility is either via a first-come, first-served basis or balloting. Do keep in mind that bookings can only be made 7 days in advance. Non-registered users can only make on-the-spot bookings at booking counters 15 minutes before the session starts.
Here are some of the complimentary facilities you can book around Hong Kong, categorised by sport type:
Football
Hong Kong’s parks and playgrounds are equipped with a variety of recreational facilities for friendly matches or practice sessions, offering both 5-a-side and 7-a-side hard-surfaced pitches. Here are some venues you can book for your next practice.
Hong Kong Island
- Blake Gardens
- Forbes Street Playground
- Kennedy Town Temporary Recreation Ground
- Pok Fu Lam Road Playground
- Aldrich Bay Playground
Kowloon
- Carpenter Road Park
- Ede Road Playground
- Fat Kwong Street Playground
- Ho Man Tin Park
- Hoi Sham Park
New Territories East
- Kwu Tung Playground
- Luen Wo Hui Playground
- North District Park
- On Lok Tsuen Playground
- Pak Wo Road Playground
New Territories West
- Cheung Chau Sports Ground
- Mui Wo Playground
- Peng Chau Mini-Soccer Pitch
Wall Climbing
These sports climbing facilities in Hong Kong come with multiple lanes for climbers of all skill levels.
Kowloon
- Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre
- Shek Kip Mei Park Sports Centre
New Territories East
- Po Wing Road Sports Centre
- Tiu Keng Leng Sports Centre
- Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre
New Territories West
- Tsing Yi Southwest Sports Centre
- Tsuen Wan Sports Centre (adjacent to Tsuen Wan West Station)
- Siu Lun Sports Centre
- Tin Fai Road Sports Centre
Table Tennis
Hong Kong’s outdoor tennis table facilities are perfect for enjoying a friendly match, with access to lockers, changing rooms and barrier-free facilities.
New Territories East
- Tsang Tai Uk Recreation Ground
Tennis
We know tennis bookings can be notoriously competitive so be extra patient when reserving a slot.
New Territories East
- North District Sports Ground
- Po Tsui Park
- Tai Po Sports Ground – Squash and Tennis Centre
Volleyball
Here are free outdoor pitches and courts available for booking. Some facilities are equipped with changing rooms and floodlight systems with fixed poles installed at the venue.
Hong Kong Islands
- Blake Gardens
- North Point Vehicular Ferry Pier Playground
- Ap Lei Chau Park
- Victoria Park
Badminton
Here are non-fee facilities you can book for friendly badminton matches and practices.
Kowloon
- Canton Road Playground
New Territories East
- Tsang Tai Uk Recreation Ground
New Territories West
- Yau Oi Sitting-out Area
Free Cultural, Music and Art Classes
Picking up a new hobby or skill doesn’t have to be expensive. If you want to learn something new but don’t want to commit long term, check out a range of free cultural programmes and classes available for all ages and backgrounds. Offered by the LCSD, in partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the 18 District Councils, these classes provide a fantastic opportunity to explore various interests, from arts and crafts to dance, music, and language courses.
Here are some classes running until the end of December. Keep your eyes peeled for the next batch of free cultural classes in 2025:
- Ballet class of Sha Tin Arts Association (Sha Tin Town Hall dance studio)
- Calligraphy class (Sha Tin Town Hall conference & lecture rooms)
- Cantonese opera class (Sha Tin Town Hall conference & lecture rooms)
- Cantonese opera movement skills & techniques (Sha Tin Town Hall conference & lecture rooms)
- Chinese drawing training class (Sha Tin Town Hall conference room)
- Dance class (North District Town Hall & Sha Tin Town Hall)
- Dance training including ballet, jazz, K-Pop, Latin and rhythmic gymnastics (North District Town Hall function room)
- Photography talk (Hong Kong Central Library)
- Taekwondo class (Sha Tin Town Hall dance studio)
- Yoga training course (Sha Tin Town Hall dance and music studios)
Read More: Acting Lessons, Speech And Drama Classes For Kids In Hong Kong
Family and Health Services & Other Perks
Vaccination Scheme
Just when you thought you’d finally shaken off the hefty expenses that come with giving birth, along comes another item in your ever-growing bill—immunisation. Getting vaccines for your kid can be an expensive trip to the clinic, but fortunately, you can benefit from the Childhood Immunisation Programme provided to children from birth up to 5 years.
Shots are usually given in Maternal and Child Health Centres, but other vaccines not included in the programme should be taken in private clinics.
Read More: Obstetrician And Gynaecologists In Hong Kong: Tips For Choosing An OBGYN
Newborn Baby Bonus
Due to its a record-low birth rate, Hong Kong began incentivising eligible parents with a one-off cash allowance of $20,000 for each baby born on or after 25 October 2023. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Babies must be born in Hong Kong between 25 October 2023 and 24 October 2026
- Either parent of the babies must be a Hong Kong permanent resident at the time of application
Read More: Preparing For Birth In A Public Hospital In Hong Kong
