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Domestic Helper and Two Others Arrested for Scalping Tennis Court Bookings at Victoria Park

Domestic Helper and Two Others Arrested for Scalping Tennis Court Bookings

A coordinated crackdown by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Immigration Department, and the Police Force has resulted in the arrest of three individuals, including a foreign domestic helper, suspected of scalping tennis court bookings at Victoria Park.

The arrests were made on July 13 in the Wan Chai district as part of a targeted operation focusing on several tennis courts. The domestic helper is suspected of violating her condition of stay by transferring tennis court user permits to others for profit, an action that contravenes local regulations.

One of the suspects faces additional charges for using and possessing another person’s Hong Kong identity card without reasonable grounds, adding another layer of complexity to the case. The Immigration Department is now delving into the details of these immigration offenses, with potential further arrests of other involved parties on the horizon.

In the same operation, LCSD officials identified four instances where rental users violated the “Conditions of Use of Recreation and Sports Facilities.” As a consequence, the department has enacted disciplinary measures, including the suspension of booking rights for an individual found to have illegally lent their HKID card to another person to access a sports facility.

The LCSD has issued a stern reminder to users to manage their SmartPLAY accounts diligently. This includes safeguarding personal information and identity card numbers, and strictly refraining from sharing them with others. The department emphasized that providing false information or breaching the “SmartPLAY Terms of Use” could lead to severe repercussions, such as the cancellation or suspension of a user’s account for up to 180 days.

The joint operation underscores the commitment of Hong Kong’s authorities to maintaining the integrity of public sports facilities and enforcing rules that ensure fair access for all residents. The investigation continues as officials work to root out any further misconduct related to the illegal scalping of sports facility bookings.