24‑hour fitness centres have burgeoned in Hong Kong in recent years to cater for consumers with different daily routines, enabling them to exercise without time restrictions while also offering more flexible fee arrangements. The Consumer Council consolidated the service fees and membership terms of 11 24‑hour fitness centres in Hong Kong and found that although all centres provided monthly fee plans, 5 centres required additional payments on top of the basic monthly fee, including enrolment fees, electronic key or key card charges, etc. When these additional costs were averaged out, the overall monthly fee would increase, posing a greater impact on consumers intending to purchase short‑term memberships only. If consumers have long‑term fitness goals, choosing a 12‑month membership generally offered a lower average monthly fee than purchasing a 1‑month membership. Although 2 centres provided information on “1‑month memberships”, they in fact required consumers to enrol for at least 2 full months. Consumers should first understand whether the centre would charge other fees on top of the monthly fee and consider their own workout habits before making a purchase decision.
In addition, the Council’s staff visited 22 branches as mystery shoppers and found that consumers were generally required to provide relatively sensitive personal data when trying out facilities or enrolling for memberships. During free trials, 2 centres required consumers to temporarily surrender their identity documents bearing their name or photograph, while 9 centres used facial recognition as the main method of entry verification, requiring the collection of facial or upper‑body images when signing up as a member.
The Council reminded traders that when collecting and processing personal data, they must adhere to the principle of “necessary and adequate but not excessive” to comply with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Consumers are also advised to understand the arrangements for personal data collection and processing before trial sessions or membership registration, including the purposes, necessity, storage methods and security measures, in order to assess if they are acceptable.
The Council collected the service fees and membership terms of 11 24‑hour fitness centres in Hong Kong from November to December 2025. The information was compiled from their websites and subsequently verified by the relevant fitness centres, all of which responded. The number of branches under the 11 fitness centres ranged from 4 to 140. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the services, the Council also visited 2 branches of each centre as regular consumers to try purchasing memberships and observe the facilities and environment.
Enrolment Fees, Key Card Fees Could Increase Average Monthly Fees
Short‑term Users Should Calculate Costs Carefully
To help consumers compare basic expenses, the estimated costs of this survey were based on the fee applicable across all branches, only counting non‑refundable fees, and opting for the charge for monthly billing models while excluding prepayment or limited‑time offers. It is also assumed that consumers only signed up for basic fitness equipment and did not enrol in additional paid classes.
The survey found that all 11 centres offered monthly membership fee plans, with the longest membership plan lasting 24 months, provided by 1 centre. Apart from the basic monthly fee, 4 centres charged enrolment fees, 1 of which provided a waiver for 6- or 12- month plans. 2 centres charged non‑refundable electronic key or key card fees, and 4 centres required deposits. Among these, 1 centre used the deposit as the final month’s fee, while the other 3 refunded the deposit upon contract completion.
Consumers who were unsure about their commitment to a long‑term fitness plan might first purchase a 1‑month membership. Upon comparing the average monthly fees of 1‑month and 12‑month memberships, it was found that 1 centre charged both an electronic key fee and an enrolment fee on top of the basic monthly fee. As these non‑refundable fees had to be evened out within the short membership period, this centre recorded the most significant difference between 1‑month and 12‑month average monthly fees, exceeding a 2‑fold gap. Another 3 centres also recorded more than a 1‑fold difference after calculating the monthly average.
In addition, although 2 centres stated that “1‑month membership” was available on their websites and during trial visits, they actually required consumers to enrol for at least 2 full months. Consumers planning short‑term usage should be extra cautious to avoid exceeding their budget. Conversely, 1 centre did not charge any non‑refundable fees on top of the monthly fee, and the monthly fee remained at $498 regardless of whether the membership commitment period was 1 month or 12 months, offering greater flexibility.
Another centre could not provide a “1‑month membership” plan with access across all branches, whereas its short-term flexible plan was billed every 4 weeks (i.e. 28 days), which did not correspond to a full month. Excluding the aforementioned centres (i.e. the 2 centres which required a minimum of 2 months of membership commitment, and the 1 centre that could not provide a “1‑month plan”), the lowest average monthly fee for a 1‑month membership among the remaining centres ranged from $498 to $1,850 (including the enrolment fee and key card fee). It should be noted that the centre with the lowest average monthly fee had only 4 branches, while the highest had 38 branches (the second highest among the surveyed centres). Consumers should consider their personal needs when selecting a fitness centre.
12‑month Memberships Were Relatively Cheaper
Suspension Arrangements Varied and Might Incur Handling Charges
For consumers planning long‑term training, choosing a 12‑month membership generally offered better value. When purchasing a 12‑month membership, 5 centres still charged different types of non‑refundable fees. After including these costs, the average monthly fees ranged from $349 to $783, which were still lower than the average monthly fees of 1‑month plans in general. In addition to the more common monthly billing model, 1 centre offered a billing plan for “every 4 weeks”, which converted to 13 payments per year, compared with 12 payments for monthly billing. Consumers should take note of their total annual spending when making comparisons. Consumers should also pay attention to whether the contract renewed automatically and whether fees would be adjusted after renewal.
If consumers commit to longer‑term plans but encounter special circumstances preventing gym usage for a period, 10 centres allowed membership suspension. However, suspension fees, application conditions and maximum suspension durations varied. Some centres only accepted applications in special situations, such as pregnancy, illness or overseas work, and required supporting documents; others offered more flexible arrangements, allowing members to suspend membership for 1 to 3 months upon paying a monthly or per‑request handling fee without requiring reasons or proof. Consumers are advised to read the terms carefully before purchasing to ensure the services match their needs.
Most Centres Used Facial Recognition Entry Systems
Consumers Should Understand Personal Data Collection Arrangements Before Registration
Many consumers wish to assess the facilities and environment in person before purchasing memberships. All centres offered free trials. The Council’s staff found that fitness equipment in all gyms generally operated properly; the venues were clean and the supporting facilities were satisfactory. During free trials, 2 centres required consumers to hand over identity documents bearing their name or photograph to reception staff for safekeeping and collection after the trial; 8 centres required consumers to provide certain personal data during trial registration, such as the name, full or first 4 digits of their identity card number, mobile number and/or email address. Another centre also charged a deposit.
When signing up for a full membership, apart from basic contact information such as name and mobile number, 10 centres required the identity card number, with 3 centres recording only the first 4 digits. 2 centres scanned or photographed the identity card to assist with auto‑filling information. 6 centres required consumers to provide date or month of birth. 9 centres used facial recognition as the main access control system and required the collection of facial images, while the remaining centres used electronic keys, mobile keys or key cards.
The Council reminds fitness centres that when collecting personal data, they should follow the “necessary and adequate but not excessive” principle, ensure compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, and clearly explain the purpose of data collection, storage arrangements and security measures. Since identity cards contain sensitive information, extra caution must be taken during collection and processing. Before collecting facial images, traders should also consider whether less privacy‑intrusive methods could achieve the same purpose. Before participating in trials or registering for membership, consumers should understand in advance the purposes of personal data collection, storage methods, whether data would be disclosed or transferred to other parties, and the relevant protection measures so as to protect their privacy.
Support Arrangements During Unstaffed Hours
Consumers Should Familiarise Themselves with Emergency Assistance Channels
Some 24‑hour fitness centres might not have staff on duty during certain hours. In case of emergencies, whether consumers could receive timely assistance is a key concern. 4 centres could provide one‑time passwords or remote assistance to open doors in case members encounter access problems; one of these centres installed emergency buttons at various locations inside the gym, directly connected to the mobile devices of management staff. Most centres stated that in situations involving injury, disturbance or missing items, consumers could immediately call or press the emergency communication button in the venue to notify staff, who would then follow up using CCTV records. Overall, the emergency response mechanisms of the centres were generally adequate.
Consumers could take note of the following advice from doctors and academics to improve safety during exercise and reduce risks when using 24‑hour fitness centres:
- Check the environment to ensure adequate lighting and stable equipment. Carry out at least 5 to 10 minutes of warm‑up exercise before starting. The workout intensity should increase gradually according to personal fitness level, and rest days should be arranged to avoid fatigue;
- As muscles tend to be stiffer during early morning hours, consumers should strengthen warm‑ups to reduce risks of injury. High‑intensity exercise within 4 hours before bedtime might affect sleep due to increased body temperature and residual adrenaline. Moderate‑to‑low‑intensity exercise would be more suitable during late‑night sessions;
- When using the gym during late‑night or low‑traffic periods, consumers should stay alert, inform family members of their location and expected return time in advance, identify emergency buttons and first aid kits, and avoid performing technically demanding or heavy‑weight movements alone to prevent injury when no staff is present;
- Consumers with heart disease or hypertension should consult healthcare professionals beforehand and adjust exercise time, training method and intensity accordingly. Early morning or late‑night exercise might not be suitable. Instead, moderate‑to‑low‑intensity daytime training is recommended. Consumers should also watch their breathing rhythm during weight training and avoid holding their breath;
- If symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness or shortness of breath occur, stop the workout immediately and rest. Call 999 for assistance if necessary.
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