The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, Office of Dr. Tik Chi Yuen, Legislative Councillor, Office of Hon Lam So Wai Connie, Legislative Councillor, and the Accessibility Concern Platform announce results of the accessibility study of culture, sports, and tourism facilities, advocating overall enhancement of barrier-free facilities to support “tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong” — 29/09/2025
An accessibility study of cultural, sports, and tourism facilities in Hong Kong was conducted by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR), Office of Dr. Tik Chi Yuen, Legislative Councillor, Office of Hon Lam So Wai Connie, Legislative Councillor, and the Accessibility Concern Platform, with results showing that issues were found in nearly 60% of basic barrier-free facilities, while ticketing systems and staff training also required improvement. Covering inspections of 76 venues, the study identifies problems such as insufficient information on travel planning, inadequate designs, and lack of staff awareness, posing challenges to persons with disabilities and individuals with special needs to participate in activities. To tackle the problems, HKSR proposes several recommendations, including standardising accessibility information on websites, incorporating universal design into venue facilities, and improving staff training. Ms Iris Chan Kwan Ning, Consultant (Research & Advocacy) of the HKSR’s Centre on Research and Advocacy (CRA), remarked, “As the 15th National Games and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (Hong Kong) will be held in November, we hope that ticketing services and venue facilities will be enhanced to accommodate the diverse needs of local and overseas audience, including persons with disabilities, enabling them to access the venues and cheer for their favourite athletes, which is also in line with the concept of ‘tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong’.” There is also urging need for relevant organisations to review facilities promptly to improve overall accessibility.
Consisting of an online questionnaire and on-site inspections, the study aims to understand the needs and challenges faced by persons with disabilities and limited mobility when they participate in cultural, sports, and tourism activities, and to assess the problems in terms of environment and services, as well as user experiences during their participation. The online questionnaire answered by a total of 177 adults with physical disabilities or limited mobility reveals that there is a significant gap between actual participation and expectations over the past six months, with 70% of respondents expressing that they wish to take part in more activities. Major issues include inadequate accessible environments and facilities (47.5%), lack of support from companion (39%), and insufficient accessibility in public transportation (37.3%). On the other hand, on-site inspections were conducted by wheelchair users, covering venues for the National Games and the National Special Olympic Games (Hong Kong), “M” Mark event venues, sports centres and swimming pools in different districts, major cultural venues, and attractions recommended by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. For travel planning, the study points out that online information is confusing, i.e. navigation is inaccurate or accessibility details are missing. The median score of overall satisfaction is 7 out of 10, and some venues score as low as 0.
Kai Tak Sports Park: Good infrastructure but improvement in services is needed
The barrier-free facilities at Kai Tak Sports Park, the latest flagship venue for major events, have come to public attention. Ms Nora Leung Wing Han, Project Manager (Advocacy) of the HKSR’s Centre on Research and Advocacy (CRA), remarked, “Accessibility of Kai Tak Sports Park is generally satisfactory, but there is significant room for improvement in the ticketing system and staff training.” On-site inspection found that wheelchair seating in Kai Tak Stadium and Kai Tak Arena could only be booked via telephone, while the hotline was difficult to reach and online information was incomplete. During the study, the ticketing process took 71 days to complete. On event days, although many wheelchair seats remained vacant, purchasing these seats on-site was unavailable. Additionally, errors occurred when staff came to help, including improper guidance and using inaccessible high counters to serve wheelchair users. In contrast, venues managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, such as Hong Kong City Hall and the Hong Kong Coliseum, have set good examples by offering online ticketing, clear seating charts and proactive assistance.
Temporary facilities for mega events: Design should consider diverse needs
Temporary facilities at other mega event venues also show a lack of thorough consideration for accessibility design. Notable issues include undersized accessible toilets (smaller than the 150×150 cm standard) that are poorly lit, making them difficult for users of electric wheelchairs to use. Steep cable ramp covers cause wheelchairs to get stuck, and concert seating areas designed exclusively for standing obstruct the views of wheelchair users. These findings reflect a lack of universal design concept in temporary setups.
Nearly 60% of basic barrier-free facilities are below standard in 76 cultural, sports, and tourism venues
Among the 76 venues inspected, nearly 60% (58.2%) of the basic barrier-free facilities failed to comply with guidelines in “Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008”. Common issues include insufficient moving space inside accessible toilets (59.5%), and insufficient signage or poor design (48.4% and 30.8%). Cultural, sports, and tourism facilities also lack consideration for diverse needs, for example, instructions for wheelchair users are missing in recreational facilities; seating arrangements at performance venues are unsatisfactory (80% of cultural performance venues have wheelchair seats that are too far or have obstructed views); and exhibitions are placed too high or low, or pathways are too narrow (61.9% of exhibition venues have obstructed views), causing difficulties for wheelchair users to enjoy the activities.
Staff training can be strengthened to provide appropriate assistance
From the inspection, staff at the venues generally showed positive attitudes and were willing to help persons with disabilities. However, the scores of their ability to provide appropriate assistance were lower, reflecting the need to improve staff awareness and training. Examples included staff suggesting that electric wheelchairs be lifted upstairs by hand, lack of assistance when lift platforms malfunctioned, and accessible pathways being locked by ceremonial setups.
Several recommendations were proposed based on the study results, including improvement of accessibility information on websites; enhancing accessibility at cultural, sports, and tourism venues by incorporating universal design concepts into the “Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0” and conducting accessibility assessments for new attractions; updating the design manual to include standards and inspection requirements for cultural, sports, and tourism facilities; strengthening regulations for accessibility at mega event venues; ensuring equality for ticketing (e.g., same ticket sales dates and online booking); and providing regular staff training about disability awareness and relevant regulations.
Dr. Tik Chi Yuen: Engaging persons with disabilities in decision-making helps making policies that truly address their needs
Dr. Tik Chi Yuen, Legislative Councillor, has proposed several recommendations to improve the rights of persons with disabilities, covering aspects of policy making, implementation in community and complaint mechanisms. He suggested that the government should form a committee on disability affairs led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, to primarily coordinate policies across departments to ensure that they align with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Highlighting the importance of increasing participation and supervision at the community level, Dr. Tik Chi Yuen also proposed conducting regular inspections by District Councils on universal design and establishing a dedicated sub-committee under the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee to handle related complaints. Dr. Tik Chi Yuen remarked, “Engaging persons with disabilities in decision-making helps making policies that truly address their needs.” He also recommended increasing the representation of persons with disabilities in advisory and enforcement bodies to promote social inclusion and enhance policy effectiveness.
Hon Lam So Wai Connie: Ensuring equal ticketing access for persons with disabilities
Hon Lam So Wai Connie, Legislative Councillor, highlighted the significant challenges faced by persons with disabilities when they try to participate in events held at Kai Tak Sports Park. In particular, the long ticketing process of 71 days indicated that there is great room for improvement in current arrangements.
She pointed out that persons with disabilities often encountered difficulties when they purchase tickets, such as inaccessible hotlines and unclear online ticketing information. In some cases, it took over two months from the start of ticket sales to successfully purchase tickets – only one week before the event date. This reflects a lack of coordination between Kai Tak Sports Park and event organisers in providing barrier-free services.
Emphasising that persons with disabilities should enjoy access to the same ticketing channels as all individuals, Hon Lam So Wai Connie called for improvements in providing hotline services and online information. She recommended that the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau should consider establishing regulations that require venue operators to include clauses in rental agreements, which guarantee wheelchair seats are available for purchase via websites and ticketing machines on-site. She also suggested operators to adopt best practices from other systems, for example the Cityline Ticketing Platform, which clearly displays wheelchair zone locations and prices on the ticketing page. Additionally, she acknowledged the proactive approach of the staff at Kwai Tsing Theatre, who contacts wheelchair users to understand their needs, setting an example of enhanced service quality.
Hon Lam So Wai Connie also urged Kai Tak Sports Park to enhance training for frontline staff and establish standardised service procedures to prevent unclear guidance or improper use of facilities.
In the long term aspect, Hon Lam So Wai Connie proposed that the government should consider appointing persons with disabilities as Accessibility Officers and include them in various bodies, such as the Town Planning Board, enhancing facility planning that meets their actual needs.
Hon Lam So Wai Connie emphasised that as the National Games approaches, Kai Tak Sports Park, as a major sports facility in Hong Kong, should make greater efforts in fostering social inclusion. Both the park and relevant authorities share the responsibility of ensuring systems and facilities address the needs of persons with disabilities. To enhance the right of persons with disabilities to participate in public events independently and with dignity, she will write to the relevant departments to follow up on improvement plans and monitor the progress.
Full report (Chinese only): https://www.rehabsociety.org.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/《2025文體旅設施無障礙巡查》完整報告.pdf
Presentation powerpoint (Chinese only): https://www.rehabsociety.org.hk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/《2025文體旅設施無障礙巡查》發佈會簡報.pdf
About The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR)
Established in 1959, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) provides comprehensive rehabilitation services and health management services to individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses and the elderly, assisting those in need to regain health, reintegrate into the job market and society, and enjoy a fulfilling life with dignity. With a team of multi-disciplinary professionals and 29 service units in Hong Kong and Mainland China, HKSR offers various innovative community rehabilitation services, with an annual attendance exceeding 1.7 million. Through research and advocacy efforts, it also works towards promoting a caring and inclusive society. Its “Rehabus” service currently operates the largest fleet of accessible buses in Hong Kong.
