DAB urges mega-event unit and stadium revival
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago3 MIN
Summary
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, or DAB, said it submitted its “Hong Kong Sports Industry Five-Year Plan” proposal to Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on August 12. The paper sets out nearly 60 recommendations across five broad directions, including upgrading the current major sports events committee into a dedicated coordination unit and accelerating the revitalisation of Hong Kong Stadium.
Key Points
- DAB said it gathered views from the industry and the public through an online questionnaire and seminars before finalising the proposal for the government’s first Hong Kong five-year plan
- Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun proposed upgrading the existing Major Sports Events Committee into a “Major Sports Mega Events Coordination Task Group” with stronger cross-departmental authority
- The proposed unit would create regular coordination among the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Development Bureau, Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, and Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, while also serving as an official external window for investment promotion
- DAB said Kai Tak Sports Park has shown a demonstration effect, but Hong Kong still lacks enough high-specification venues for international competitions, prompting calls to speed up the upgrading of Hong Kong Stadium and explore broader uses for Mong Kok Stadium.
- The proposal also urged upgrades at Victoria Park and Kowloon Park, where many football, tennis, swimming, diving and handball facilities date back to the 1980s and 1990s and no longer meet the latest international standards for timing systems, lighting and spectator seating.
- To expand the economic impact of sports events, DAB proposed attracting European and American teams for pre-season matches, bringing major Asian football events to Hong Kong, and building a unified digital platform for “ticket stub” discounts covering dining, retail, attractions, hotels and transport.
- The party also suggested extending ticket-linked offers beyond match day to as long as one week before and after an event, or even a month, to encourage visitors to arrive earlier or stay longer
- Other recommendations included supporting original local sports brands, creating signature events that combine traditions such as dragon boat racing and the Cheung Chau Bun Festival with Hong Kong landmarks, and using waterfront spaces such as the former Hung Hom ferry pier for water sports
Why It Matters
If adopted, the proposals would push Hong Kong’s sports policy beyond venue management toward a fuller events-and-consumption model, linking competitions with tourism, retail and hospitality spending. Faster venue upgrades and a stronger coordination mechanism could also affect how aggressively Hong Kong bids for international events in the coming years.