Public Facilities and How to Use Them
FoundationPost offices, libraries, parks and sports centres are public facilities; learn the steps for cards, bookings and posting letters, queue and keep the rules, and care for what we all share.
- Public facilities are run by government departments, free or cheap for all.
- Borrowing needs a library card; reserve and renew online too.
- Book venues in advance and show your document on time.
文體小知識：生活常識說明文一步步教我們使用公共設施的程序，跟着做就不會手忙腳亂。
§Text Passage
1Hong Kong's public facilities are managed by government departments: the Leisure and Cultural Services Department runs parks, sports centres, swimming pools and public libraries, and Hongkong Post runs the post offices. They are free or cheap so that all residents can use them. Only when we use them correctly can they serve everyone best.
2Learn the procedures before using a facility. Borrowing books needs a library card, applied for at a library; you can also search the catalogue, reserve and renew online. To hire a badminton court, book online or at the counter first, note the session, and arrive on time with your identity document. Registered mail is handled at the post office counter with enough postage and a clear address, and the clerk issues a receipt for tracking.
3Order in public places is kept by everyone: queue and wait your turn, first come first served, and speak softly; wear proper sports shoes and clothes on courts; rinse your feet at the footbath before entering the pool. Rules are not restrictions — they let everyone use the facilities fairly, safely and comfortably.
4Caring for facilities is the user's duty: use the equipment properly, and admit and take responsibility for any damage; report broken or dangerous facilities to an adult, the management office or the government hotline. Making good use of postal, library and leisure services serves yourself — and puts public resources to their best use.
1Summary 重點摘要
Post offices, libraries, parks and sports centres are public facilities; learn the steps for cards, bookings and posting letters, queue and keep the rules, and care for what we all share.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The government department running parks, sports centres, pools and public libraries.
The government department running post offices and postal services.
The card for borrowing from public libraries, obtained by application.
Registering in advance to use a facility or borrow a book later.
Extending the loan period of borrowed books before it runs out.
Mail registered at the post office that can be traced until delivery.
The fee for posting mail, shown by stamps or postage labels.
Booking a session of a court or other leisure facility in advance.
The office handling the daily running and repairs of a facility.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know who manages each facilityPublic facilities in Hong Kong are managed by different government departments. Parks, libraries and public pools belong to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, while postal services are run by Hongkong Post. Knowing which department manages each facility means that when something is broken or you have a question, you can ask the right office and get it solved quickly. The government hotline 1823 is one unified number; with an adult's help it connects you to the right department.
- Step 2: Get the card and reserveTo make good use of public facilities, get the right documents first. Take a parent and proof of address to the library to apply for a library card, and then you may borrow books; you can also search the catalogue online, reserve a favourite book, and collect it when it arrives. With a card and reservations, public resources serve you quickly and easily. If a book is not finished by the due date, renew it online or by phone, and keep the habit of returning on time.
- Step 3: Hire a leisure venueLeisure venues serve everyone, so learn the proper booking steps. To play badminton, choose the court and time slot on the online booking system, note the booking number for Saturday two to three in the afternoon, and arrive on time with your document for the staff to check before entering. Using a booked court on time is what a good citizen should do. Popular venues are snapped up quickly, so booking seven days ahead gives a better chance; if you cannot go, cancel as early as possible.
- Step 4: Use the postal serviceThe postal service carries our letters and parcels far away. Before posting, write the recipient's name and address clearly on the envelope, lay the letter flat to weigh it, attach enough stamps, and drop it into a posting box or hand it in at the post office counter. A clear address and enough stamps make sure the letter arrives safely. For valuable items choose registered mail; the clerk issues a receipt, so tracing is easier if anything goes missing.
- Step 5: Follow the rules of useEvery facility has rules that keep users safe and healthy. Talk quietly and eat nothing in the library to keep it quiet and clean; walk through the footbath before entering the pool so less sand is carried into the water; wear sports shoes on the courts to protect yourself and the venue. Following the rules lets everyone use the facilities safely and comfortably. Following rules also shows respect for other users; when everyone is mindful, venues stay clean and safe.
- Step 6: Care and reportPublic facilities belong to all the people of Hong Kong, so caring for them is everyone's duty. Do not jump on benches or scribble on walls; if a bench screw is loose or a lamp post is broken, tell the management office, or ask an adult to call the government hotline. Timely repairs keep users safe and make public resources last longer. State the facility's name, location and damage clearly when reporting, so the staff can arrange repairs quickly.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: Long wants to play badminton with classmates on Saturday afternoon, and also to return three finished library books and borrow two new ones. How should he arrange his day?
- Book the court online a few days ahead, choose a free Saturday afternoon session, and note the booking number and time.
- Before leaving home, bring the library card, the three books and the document used for the booking.
- At the library, return the three books first, then choose two new ones and check them out.
- Arrive at the badminton court on time, show the document to the staff for checking, change into sports shoes and play.
- Answer: Long should book the court early and bring every document, finish the returning and borrowing procedures first, then check in at the badminton court on time — using both public facilities well in one day, like a smart user.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Which department manages parks, libraries and swimming pools?
Q2What do you need to borrow from a public library?
Q3What is the procedure for hiring a badminton court?
Q4What must be checked before posting a letter?
Q5What should we do when public facilities are damaged?
8Recap Recap
- Public facilities are run by government departments, free or cheap for all.
- Borrowing needs a library card; reserve and renew online too.
- Book venues in advance and show your document on time.
- Post mail with a clear address and enough postage.
- Queue, keep the rules and care for facilities — every user's duty.