A growing number of Hong Kong people enjoy a varied selection of sports and recreational facilities and activities. The LCSD develops and manages facilities such as sports grounds, playgrounds, sports centres, holiday camps, water sports centres, swimming pools and beaches. It also organises training courses, sporting competitions and other activities for people of all ages and abilities, and encourages passive recreation by providing parks and landscaped open spaces for such recreation to take place.

In addition, the department administers subventions provided to 25 camps run by 12 non-governmental organisations. Some 820 000 people participated in activities organised by these camps during the year.

The department is also the authority responsible for issuing and renewing licences for places of amusement. During the year, the department processed 77 applications for billiard halls, eight for public bowling alleys and six for skating rinks.