The Leisure & Cultural Services Department will construct eight new swimming pool complexes with heated pool facilities and add new heated swimming pool facilities to five existing complexes when they are redeveloped, reprovisioned or converted.

Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing today told lawmakers these projects are expected to be completed between 2009 and 2015, with seven of them to commence construction within the next three years.

Mr Tsang said the attendance at the public swimming pools stood at about 10.27 million, up 30% on the same period last year. The rise was mainly due to the free admission scheme to the department's leisure facilities from July 1 to September 30. During that period,  attendance rose 68%, to 7.63 million

There are now 37 public swimming pool complexes under the department's management throughout the city.