Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMICs) organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for an array of courses, ranging from music workshops to Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes, which will be held from March to August 2025.Music workshops:Arranging Music for Chamber Ensembles [new], ABCs of Musicianship (online course), Chinese Music Ensemble, Western Music Ensemble, Chinese Plucked String Ensemble Playing, Saxophone Ensemble Playing, Ocarina, Hulusi, Kalimba, Keyboard Playing, Music Theory, Aural TrainingFoundation Courses:Chinese Musical Instruments – Dizi, Xiao, Zhongruan, Liuqin, Pipa, Yangqin, Zheng, ErhuWestern Musical Instruments – Trumpet, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Percussion (Glockenspiel and Practice Pad), Violin, Viola, Cello

1) Ngong Ping Cherry BlossomsThere is a recent trend to admire spring flowers and cherry trees in Hong Kong. The cherry blossoms in Ngong Ping thrived in the past four years and bloomed steadily after the adaptation period. It has become one of the cherry blossom viewing spots in Hong Kong. And a "blossom-seasons-tourism" has also been gradually developed on Lantau Island, allowing flower lovers and tourists to watch the beauty of blooming flowers and enjoy a leisurely journey.Details: https://www.cedd.gov.hk/eng/our-projects/topics-in-focus/index-id-28.html 2) Blossoms Around the TownLook around and enjoy the beautiful blossoms in the city all year round! Details: https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/green/blossoms.html3) Hong Kong Flower Show 2025Hong Kong Flower Show 2025 (the Show) will be held from 14 to 23 March 2025 at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.  This year’s Show features Cosmos as its theme flower, with the theme being “Ablaze with Glory”.  The venue is filled with a riotously coloured display of cosmos to offer delicately lovely flowers with veil-thin petals that flutter in light breeze, exuding a gentle and charming atmosphere.  Meanwhile, cosmos are uniquely renowned for resilience and robustness.  Thanks to the ingenuity of horticulturists, the blooming flowers will definitely bring boundless exuberance to the Show.Details: https://www.hkflowershow.hk/en/hkfs/2023/index.html 4) "LCSD Plusss" Flower ExpressLeisure and Cultural Services Department provides weekly updates on flowers and plants on the "LCSD Plusss" Facebook page.Details: https://www.fa.gov.hk/en/videos.html 5) 【LCSD Edutainment Channel - 101 Academy】Appreciation of Flowers 101Details of "Appreciation of Flowers 101": https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/edutainment/en/academy/page_75.html6) 【Development Bureau Webpage - Flower in Bloom】Development Bureau archives and categorises flowers and plants according to months from January to December on the dedicated website.Details: https://www.greening.gov.hk/en/resource-centre/plant-species-knowledge/flower-in-bloom/index.html7) 【Development Bureau Webpage - Landscape Corner】Development Bureau introduces on the dedicated website the seasonal plants and flowers that are available in different regions and seasons for the public to enjoy.Details: https://www.greening.gov.hk/en/greening-landscape/landscape-corner/index.html

Kayaking / Canoeing is a sport for all ages. It requires no complicated equipment. All you need is a paddle and a lifejacket / buoyancy aid and you will soon enjoy paddling with simple instructions. The water sports centres under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are equipped with a variety of kayaks / canoes, including single and double kayaks, rescue kayaks, sea kayaks, multi-purpose kayaks and racing kayaks (K-1). Added to these are a wide range of structured programmes and our experienced instructors. No matter being a beginner or a professional paddler, there are always programmes suitable for you. These are some examples of the training courses: For beginners  Kayak 1 Star Award Training (1-day course)A course specially designed for beginners. It is intended to get you started on sheltered waters and introduce the basic paddling strokes, whistle signals, personal gear, the relevance of lifejacket / buoyancy aid, raft-up as well as capsize training. After successful completion of the course, you may proceed to the 2-Star Award Training.  For intermediates  Kayak Proficiency Gold Award Training (Techniques & Sea Trip) (2-day course)This is the highest level of training for Proficiency Award. It introduces the skills and knowledge including sculling draw, sculling for support, low brace turn, map reading and use of compass, etc. In this course, you will undergo a 15-kilometre sea trip training. Participant completed the 2-day Kayak Proficiency Gold Award Training is eligible to apply for the Attendance Certificate from Hong Kong Canoe Union (HKCU). The Attendance Certificate Holder is eligible to apply for one day examination on both written and practical assessment organised by HKCU or its affiliated clubs. If participant successfully passes the assessments, Kayak Proficiency Certificate will be awarded by HKCU.  For professionals  Advanced Canoe Lifeguard Training (Techniques) (3-day course)This is a comprehensive canoe lifeguard course designed to prepare student with advanced knowledge, skills and ability to handle unexpected events on the water. The contents of the course include searching technique, accident case study, full rolling skill, swimming in canoe, single blade stroke, various towing techniques and first aid skills, etc. The course aims at helping participants to prepare for the Advanced Canoe Lifeguard Certificate Examination.For more details about the training course of Kayak/Canoe, please visit the website of LCSD. And please read the Entry Requirement before enrolment. >>Click here for LCSD's training courses of Kayak/Canoe Sea expeditions or adventuresThe Water Sports Centres of LCSD offer various thematic water sports activities in marine ecology and coastal geological features for nature lovers to admire the coastal scenery. Apart from physical training, the activities also help participants to improve self-confidence, give full play to their potential and foster team spirit while planning their sea expeditions. By taking part in thematic sea trips, participants can maneuver their own canoes to enjoy at close range the fascinating scenery at sea and appreciate the wonders of nature in remote and uninhabited islands. The programmes will not only help to foster a sense of environmental protection among participants but also enable them to enjoy life at leisure.After getting the specific certificate of Kayak/Canoe or LCSD Kayak 3 Star*, you can join the sea expeditions or adventures organised by the Water Sports Centres of LCSD, the programes are Marine Ecological Tours, Coastal Geological Tours, Coastal Scenery Tours, or other Coastal Tours etc. For the details of the sea expeditions or adventures, please visit the website of LCSD.*For novices in canoeing, the Water Sports Centres of LCSD will provide one-stop service including provision of elementary training courses in canoeing (i.e. Kayak 1-star to 3-star Award) and design of appropriate sea expeditions or adventures to participants who are interested in canoeing and able to swim 50 metres with clothes. Please contact the Water Sports Centres for details.

SmartPLAY, a new intelligent sports and recreation services booking and information system will be launched for user registration starting from July 3.  Available in both website and mobile app format, SmartPLAY enables users to register personal accounts, and search and book/enrol for sports and recreation facilities or programmes anytime and anywhere.  All people (including the existing Leisure Link Patrons) must register as a user of SmartPLAY and complete the authentication process before using the new system. The new system will be launched by phases.  Members of the public can utilise the new system on or before October.  They can then utilise the new Smart Self-service Stations at around 240 leisure venues under the management of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) during opening hours easily and conveniently, including the District Leisure Service Offices in various districts, sports centres, swimming pools, sports grounds, holiday camps and water sports centres, etc.  The eye-catching design and user-friendly services will bring a new look and experience to our citizens. For details, please check out the Facebook of LCSDPlusss and press release.

To further strengthen the promotion of urban sports that have been introduced in the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games, as well as to encourage greater public participation in sports activities, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will organise a series of urban sports programmes including 3-on-3 basketball, breaking, futsal, skateboarding and sport climbing.  Some of the events are conducted to cater for youths, with a view to spurring more participation by them and exploring their potential in sports. Wish to join the urban sports programmes? Scroll down and learn more! Schedule of Urban Sports Programmes 3-on-3 Basketball Breaking Futsal Skateboarding Sport Climbing   Enrolment Method and ProcedureThe enrolment method and procedure for various programmes may vary. Please refer to the codes for enrolment method and procedure annotated at the programme schedule, as well the the notes on enrolment. Notes on Enrolment   Facilities and Venues SearchApart from the mentioned programmes, LCSD facilities are also available for conducting urban sports. At present, there are 14 indoor and outdoor sport climbing facilities, 8 skateboard grounds, 5 skateparks, over 120 5-a-side soccer pitches, some 500 basketball courts and over 190 dance rooms/activity rooms available for conducting urban sports. Search for facilities available for conducting urban sports   LCSD Edutainment Channel Learning Sports3-on-3 Basketball Roller Sports Sport Climbing Free Promotional Fun Days Suitable for YouthsWith a view to bolstering the participation of youth, LCSD will launch a series of free promotional fun days with specific urban sports themes which are suitable for youths, such as Skateboarding Fun Day for Youth, Breaking Fun Day for Youth and 3-on-3 Basketball Fun Day for Youth. Relevant national sports associations will send qualified instructors to demonstrate the sports and teach participants basic skills on-site. Participants can also join a play-in session to experience the fun of urban sports and explore their sport potential. Stay tuned! Click here to visit LCSD's Urban Sports dedicated website.    

This story is only available in Chinese. For more information on the subject, please visit the Leisure and Cultural Services Department Facebook Page.

This story is only available in Chinese. For more information on the subject, please visit the Leisure and Cultural Services Department Facebook Page.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotional Videos ProjectThe Intangible Cultural Heritage Office and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong co-organised the “Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Promotional Videos Project” in 2019. Through this project, students have produced 7 sets 360-degree virtual reality videos and documentaries for introducing local intangible cultural heritage (ICH) items. Under the guidance of instructors, students seized the opportunity to have close contact with local ICH items, interact directly with ICH bearers, as well as conduct video recordings of the activities by themselves, whereby deepening their understanding of each of the ICH items. Let’s enjoy their works together! Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade During the annual Dragon Boat Festival, three fishermen's associations in Tai O, namely Pa Teng Hong, Sin Yu Hong and Hap Sim Tong, organise a religious activity known as the dragon boat water parade. On the morning of the day before the festival, members of the associations row their dragon boats to visit four temples in Tai O, where they receive statues of the folk deities Yeung Hou, Tin Hau, Kwan Tei and Hung Shing. They carry the deity statues back to their associations’ hall for worship. On the day of the festival, the deity statues are put on sacred sampans towed by the associations’ dragon boats to parade through Tai O’s waters. After the ritual, the deity statues are returned to the respective temples in the afternoon. This unique religious activity has been inherited for more than a century. Tai O dragon boat water parade was inscribed onto the third national list of ICH in 2011. For more about Tai O Dragon Boat Water Parade, please visit the website of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office.