The Leisure & Cultural Services Department will promote community-wide participation in sport in April by providing a diverse range of public activities.

Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing told legislators today it is one of the Government's sports policy objectives to promote "Sport for All", adding the department is promoting the importance and benefits of regular exercise through public education.

A comprehensive review will be conducted on community sports activities and public demand for sports facilities in light of the Consultancy Study on Sport for All-the Participation Patterns of Hong Kong People in Physical Activities' findings.

The Government will provide more sport and physical activities suitable for people from different age groups in collaboration with National Sports Associations, Mr Tsang said.

"We plan to conduct a similar consultancy study once every five years to collect data on public participation in sports and physical activities to allow us to understand better the factors affecting levels of participation, so we can provide facilities and services that will better serve the public."

In the coming five years the department will build 14 new jogging tracks and resurface existing ones.

Sixty-four more badminton courts will be built and the department will also provide in the next five years 11 new facilities with indoor heated swimming pools, some of which will be converted from existing outdoor pools. These projects include redeveloping the Victoria Park and Kwun Tong Swimming Pools, reprovisioning Kennedy Town Swimming Pool and converting the secondary pool at Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool.