To tie in with the November 9 launch of SmartPLAY, the new sports and recreation services booking system, the public is reminded to take note of the transitional arrangements of booking for fee-charging leisure facilities managed by the Leisure & Cultural Services Department within November.

From now to tomorrow, the public can continue to make advance bookings of leisure facilities within seven days by November 9 through the Leisure Link on a first come, first served basis.

As a transitional arrangement, available sessions of general fee-charging facilities from November 4 to 11 and November 5 to 14 will be made available for public booking in advance on November 4 and 5 respectively on a first-come, first-served basis.

After the launch of SmartPLAY on November 9, people can make advance bookings of available sessions of leisure facilities within seven days by the new system on a first come, first served basis.

They can submit their applications via the SmartPLAY website, the My SmartPLAY mobile app, smart self-service stations or booking counters at major leisure venues.

Moreover, people can make on-the-spot bookings of available facilities 15 minutes prior to that session at the leisure venues' booking counters during the service suspension from November 6 to 8. For venues without booking counters, they may go to the designated supporting venue to book the available facilities on the spot.

As a reminder, the department explained that starting from November 9, people, including existing Leisure Link patrons, must register with the new system and complete an identity authentication process before using it to enrol in programmes and book leisure facilities.

Those who have successfully registered as SmartPLAY users by November 5 and have completed authentication are automatically entitled to enter a lucky draw with an opportunity to win prizes.