The Office of The Ombudsman announced on October 13 a direct investigation into the effectiveness of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's management of indoor fitness rooms. The department runs 87 such rooms, generally inside sports centres. Except for holders of qualifications recognised by the Physical Fitness Association of Hong Kong, China, users must first complete a three-hour briefing and pass a written test, or finish a 12-hour training course with at least 80 per cent attendance.

The Office's preliminary inquiry found a severe shortage of places. In 2025 the department held around 1,000 briefing sessions with 25,000 places against 377,000 applications, and around 2,500 training courses with 58,500 places against 257,000 applications. Registered users rose 56 per cent from around 151,000 to 236,000 between 2023 and 2025, while annual visits rose 50 per cent from around 4.852 million to 7.262 million.

The Ombudsman, Jack Chan, questioned whether the qualification requirement still serves a practical need, noting no similar rule applies to swimming. The inquiry will also cover the booking mechanism, utilisation, monitoring and equipment maintenance. The Office said monthly ticket holders can cancel up to one hour before a session without penalty and face no daily booking cap, so rooms can be full on paper while underused. Written public submissions are invited by November 13.