Applications are temporarily suspended until further notice.

Our centre is offering free field equipment for the public to loan such as field guides, books, binoculars and loupes. 

 

Loan Service Period

• Equipment borrowing will stop 1.5 hours before the centre closes

  • Tuesdays, Thursdays to Sundays: 10:30-16:00

  • Wednesdays: 10:30-13:00

• All equipment should be returned on the same day

 

Equipment List

Equipment Category	Equipment Name	Quantity	Nature Exploration Type
Field guides	Common Birds in Lung Fu Shan	10	Birds
	Common Butterflies in Lung Fu Shan	10	Butterflies
Books	The Birds of Hong Kong and South China (Chinese  version)	2	Birds
	The Birds of Hong Kong and South China (English version)	1	Birds
	Birdwatching in Woodlands	1	Birds
	Encyclopedia of Hong Kong Butterflies - Butterfly Identification	1	Butterflies
	Handbook of Butterfly Watching - Advanced Level (in Chinese)	1	Butterflies
	Photographic Handbook of Hong Kong Butterflies (4th Edition)	4	Butterflies
	Handbook of Hong Kong Plants (in Chinese)	1	Plants
	A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong	1	Plants
	Hong Kong Field Guides - Hillsides	1	Ecology
	The Pulse of Nature - Mid-Levels West	2	Nature, history, culture
Binoculars	Binoculars for adults (magnification = 8)	10	Birds, butterflies
	Binoculars for kids (magnification = 8)	9	Birds, butterflies
Loupes	Illuminated loupe (magnification = 30)	10	Insects, plants

 

For Individual Applicants

Borrowing Quota

Each person can borrow at most two items per day, regardless of the equipment category.

 

Borrowing Procedure

1. Book via phone

The service can be booked at most 7 days in advance by calling our centre (2975 9031).

• Phone booking service is only available during our opening hours

• Priority will be given to people who have booked via phone on a  first-come, first-served basis.

2. On-site borrowing

People may borrow equipment on-site as long as it is 1.5 hours before the centre's closing time on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Fill in the registration form and pay deposit 

• Cash only; no change

Equipment Category	Deposit (HKD)
Field guides	$10 per sheet
Books	$100 per copy
Binoculars	$300 per pair
Loupes	$50 per piece

4. Receive equipment

5. Return the equipment on the same day

• By the centre's closing time

6. Claim deposit if the equipment has been returned without damage

 

For Group Applicants (Only Applicable to Groups with at least 5 People)

Borrowing Quotas

The daily borrowing quotas for different equipment for each group are listed below. You may borrow equipment from as many categories as you wish.  

Equipment Category	Quota
Field guides	10
Books	5
Binoculars	10 pairs
Loupes	50

 

Borrowing Procedure

1. Book online

The group representatives should book the service by filling in the online registration form at least 2 weeks in advance

• Priorities will be given to the following groups

  • Local academic institutions

  • Locally registered charitable institutions and trusts of a public character, which are exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance

  • Elderly, family, children and youth centres operated by the Social Welfare Department

• If groups in the same category booked the same items on the same day, the service will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis

2. On-site borrowing

Group applicants can also borrow equipment on-site as long as it is 1.5 hours before the centre's closing time on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Fill in the registration form and pay deposit 

• Cash only; no change

Equipment Category	Deposit (HKD)
Field guides	$2 per sheet
Books	$20 per copy
Binoculars	$100 per pair
Loupes	$10 per piece

4. Receive equipment

5. Return the equipment on the same day

• By the centre's closing time

6. Claim deposit if the equipment has been returned without damage

 

Remarks

• Arrangements for bad weather or centre closure:

          The service will stop if any of the following warning signals is hoisted, or the centre is closed.

• • Thunderstorm warning

  • Landslip warning

  • Any rainstorm warning

  • Any typhoon signal

• Please come to the centre to complete the borrowing process and pay the equipment deposit within the booked time period and date. The booking will be automatically cancelled for no show cases.

• Returning equipment:

  • All equipment should be returned before the centre closes on the day it is borrowed.

  • The borrower is required to pay a fine if the return is overdue. Charges (in HKD; cash only; no change):

Equipment Category	Fine per Item per Day	Maximum Fine per Item
Field guides	$1	$50
Books	$2	$200
Binoculars	$20	$2,000
Loupes	$2	$200

• • The borrower is required to compensate according to the equipment price if any damage is found on the equipment.

  • No deposit will be returned if the equipment is lost. The centre reserves the right to claim damages in addition to the deposit for the lost equipment.

• The centre reserves its right to alter, delete or add on to any or all of the above terms and conditions without prior notification.

• In case of any disputes, the right of interpretation and decision lies with the centre.