HK should co-host international sports events with GBA: Kenneth Fok

Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication sector lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong hopes to see cities within the Greater Bay Area apply for hosting more international competitions in the future.

Fok, also a Hong Kong delegate to the country’s legislature National People’s Congress, said yesterday that the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau governments are putting their best foot forward to prepare for the 15th National Games to be held in November this year, and things are going smoothly.

Highlighting their substantial experience in organizing sports competitions, Fok envisioned Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau joining forces to stage more international sports tournaments.

Fok said: “As the GBA becomes more integrated, should the three regions jointly apply for hosting rights for international events? By doing so, we can leverage Hong Kong as a gateway to the world.”

“As stated in the work report, [we can] tap into China’s vast market and consumer power to collectively advance the sports industry,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, a top national political advisor from Hong Kong called on the city to create more intellectual property (IP) related to Chinese culture, as part of Beijing’s push for cultural confidence.

Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, a Hong Kong member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), emphasized Hong Kong’s unique advantage in promoting cultural exchanges between China and overseas.

“As Beijing positions Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for international cultural exchange, the city should connect the world with art and create more Chinese cultural IP,” he said.

Cheng, also chairman of the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Committee, vowed a “mega event 2.0” push, saying that his committee and the government will seek to have more internationally-impactful cultural events to be held in the city.

(Jamie Liu and Cheng Wong)