Community Facilities in Hong Kong
FoundationLibraries, parks, post offices and fire stations serve us all — follow the rules and care for public property.
- Community facilities lend books, offer sport and handle post.
- Dial 999 in an emergency, stating the place and the situation.
- Follow the rules of use, such as keeping quiet.
文體小知識：說明文像導遊一樣，逐一介紹社區裏的設施，教你說出它們的功能和使用守則。
§Text Passage
1On the way home from school you pass many community facilities. Set up by the Government or organisations, they serve residents in different ways: the library lends books, parks and playgrounds are for sport and play, and the post office sends letters and receives parcels.
2Some facilities protect our safety and health: dial 999 in a fire to summon the firefighters; police stations keep the peace; clinics and hospitals treat the sick; in typhoons, community halls open for people who need shelter. Know these places, and you will know where to turn for help.
3Community facilities belong to everyone, so follow the rules: keep quiet in the library and return books on time; do not climb or scribble in the park and queue for the slide; shower first and wear a swimming cap at the pool. Care for the facilities, and everyone gets to use them.
4A small task: draw a map of your neighbourhood with your parents, marking the nearest library, park, post office and clinic, and write down their opening hours. Next time you need a service, you will find it at a glance.
1Summary 重點摘要
Libraries, parks, post offices and fire stations serve us all — follow the rules and care for public property.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Public places serving residents, such as libraries and parks.
A place that keeps books for people to borrow and read.
A garden for rest, exercise and play.
The office that handles letters and parcels.
Where firefighters stay and fire engines are kept.
Where police work to keep the peace.
Where doctors see and treat patients.
The hours when a facility is open for use.
Things belonging to everyone, such as park benches.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Name facilities and their functionsThe community has many facilities that serve us, each with its own function: the library lends books and holds activities; the swimming pool is for learning to swim and keeping fit; the post office helps us send letters and receive parcels; the park has lawns and playgrounds for rest and play. Some people think these facilities concern them not at all, but naming each facility and its function tells you where to go when you need it, and community life becomes far easier.
- Step 2: Know the emergency servicesKnow how to ask for help in an emergency. Hong Kong's emergency number is 999 — call it in a fire, when someone is hurt, or when the police are needed. Stay calm on the call and state the place clearly, such as the street and the building, and what has happened. Some people think a wrong or playful call to 999 is a small matter, but it delays real emergencies — wrong behaviour with potentially serious consequences.
- Step 3: Learn to check opening hoursEvery facility has opening hours and closing days, so check before setting out and you will not waste the trip. For example, public libraries open at different times on different days, and on some days they shut earlier. Ask an adult to look online, or read the notices posted at the door. Some people think facilities are open at any hour, but the habit of checking first uses time well and makes every outing efficient.
- Step 4: Follow the rules of useUsing community facilities means following the rules, out of respect for everyone. In the library, talk softly and never run or chase; put finished books back where they belong or hand them to the counter instead of leaving them anywhere. At the pool, shower before entering the water and obey the lifeguards. Some people think rules are for others, but when the rules are kept, everyone enjoys a tidy, comfortable environment, and the facilities last longer.
- Step 5: Care for public propertyCommunity facilities belong to us all, and caring for them is a citizen's duty. Do not scribble on park benches or walls, do not shake the little trees, and do not kick or break the play equipment. If you find something broken, such as a swing with a snapped chain, tell the management staff or your parents at once so nobody gets hurt. Some people think someone else will repair public property, but only when everyone cares can good facilities keep serving us.
- Step 6: Make good use of the communityThe community offers rich resources, and we should learn to use them well. On Saturday morning, go to the library for story time and borrowing books; in the afternoon run in the park and enjoy the playground; on holidays join interest classes and events at the community hall. Some people think holidays mean only screens, but using these free or inexpensive resources well makes the holidays full, and knowledge and friendship grow together.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: the book Long wants is out on loan. The librarian shows him how to reserve it online. What is good about reserving, and what else must he remember?
- Once reserved, he will be notified first when the book is returned.
- Before borrowing, check the loan period, such as fourteen days each time.
- Finish before the due date, or renew online once in advance.
- Return on time, so other readers can also borrow the book they love.
- Answer: Reserving means he need not try his luck daily — he borrows first when the book returns. He must also mind the loan period, finish or renew before the due date, and return on time.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Where should we go to borrow books?
Q2Which number should we dial in a fire?
Q3What should we mind in the library?
Q4Why care for community facilities?
Q5What should we check before going to a facility?
8Recap Recap
- Community facilities lend books, offer sport and handle post.
- Dial 999 in an emergency, stating the place and the situation.
- Follow the rules of use, such as keeping quiet.
- Care for public property and report damage to the staff.
- Draw a neighbourhood map and check opening hours before going.