EditorialMore transparency needed on fees and data for 24-hour gym memberships

As digital footprints expand, operators must be upfront with customers, who should also pause to read the fine print

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People work out in the Anytime Fitness gym at the Choi Wan Estate in Wong Tai Sin on March 16. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 6:45am, 22 Mar 2026

Round-the-clock gyms have mushroomed across Hong Kong in recent years, offering flexibility and convenience to time-pressed people juggling work and exercise. But just like the notorious problems of aggressive sales tactics and long membership contracts with chain fitness centres in the industry’s heyday, these smaller outlets running on a new business model also come with hidden costs and privacy issues that consumers cannot afford to ignore.

A targeted investigation by the Consumer Council on 24-hour operators has exposed how simple monthly plans can conceal a maze of extra costs. Five of the 11 gyms examined had non-refundable charges such as enrolment fees and payments for electronic keys or access cards. None offered genuine “one-month membership” as advertised, and the real price for short-term memberships can be more than double the headline monthly fees. The conditions for suspending membership also vary widely.

There is a sense of deja vu. Previously, the council hit out at the long binding contracts and aggressive sales tactics that locked users of chain fitness centres into disadvantaged positions. While the industry has evolved into smaller outlets with 24/7 operations, the problems with opaque fee structures and complicated tie-ins prevail.

All-day access also comes with security and privacy concerns, with users required to provide sensitive personal data to enter the premises via facial recognition or other biometric systems. The watchdog has rightly reminded gym operators to adhere to the principle of collecting “necessary and adequate but not excessive” personal data and consider less privacy-intrusive methods for sign-up and access. Consumers are also urged to scrutinise the sales and privacy terms to avoid misunderstanding and abuses.

In a city where digital footprints are expanding rapidly, the collection of facial images in exchange for convenient and value-for-money fitness facilities should not be treated lightly. The onus is on operators to be transparent on fees and responsible with data. It is also on consumers to take a moment before scanning their face and tapping their credit cards or phones to pay and read the fine print to protect their wallets and privacy.

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}As digital footprints expand, operators must be upfront with customers, who should also pause to read the fine print

As digital footprints expand, operators must be upfront with customers, who should also pause to read the fine print