The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced that the new intelligent sports and recreation services booking and information system, SmartPLAY, will be officially launched at 7am on November 9 to replace the current Leisure Link Computerised Booking System which will stop operation from November 6 onward.

Please be reminded that all people, including existing Leisure Link patrons, must register with the new system and complete an identity authentication process before using the new system to enrol in programmes and book leisure facilities.

To encourage members of the pubic to register as users as soon as possible, the LCSD holds a promotional activity with prizes which includes a latest model of smartphone. All users who have successfully registered as SmartPLAY users by November 5 and have completed authentication (including the 210 000 registered SmartPLAY users) are automatically entitled to enter the lucky draw with an opportunity to win prizes. Details of the promotional activity can be found on the website: www.smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk/website/en/news/10015.html.

Apart from its core functions for booking facilities, the new system will provide more enhanced functions. The capacity of the new system will be enlarged to accommodate 10 000 concurrent users, as opposed to around 1 000 at present, so as to enable a faster login to the system by more members of the public.

Moreover, users may enjoy a series of personalised services, like receiving e-notifications according to their own preferences, information on cancelled and released sessions available for booking, as well as checking balloting results and refund status, etc. Users may also receive notifications in case of urgent closure of leisure venues or cancellation of programmes due to inclement weather. The system also provides different means of e-payment.

The LCSD has provided 375 new Smart Self-service Stations at around 240 leisure venues (including District Leisure Services Offices in various districts). Members of the public can submit their registration, and complete identity authentication and account activation procedures at these Smart Self-service Stations.

To assist members of the public to complete the registration of SmartPLAY user account and to familiarise themselves with the booking of facilities and enrolment of programmes under the new system, a series of "SmartPLAY" Smart Way Workshops (www.smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk/website/en/news/9984.html) organised by the LCSD are now open for application, including some workshops dedicated to citizens aged 60 or above. Members of the public are welcome to join the workshops for free. Those interested are invited to check out details on the above website.

For more information on SmartPLAY, please visit the SmartPLAY website (www.smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk), or call the SmartPLAY hotline at 3954 5150.