Sports commissioner said Hong Kong Stadium to host smaller scale events after revamp

The proposal to downsize Hong Kong Stadium to 9,000 seats from 40,000 will allow the stadium to host small to medium sports events such as track and field after renovation, sports commissioner Yeung Tak-keung said.

“The stadium's new track-and-field facilities, including a 400-metre-long track encircling the grass pitch, will allow the hosting of track and field competitions in daytime while opening to citizens for use at night,” he said on a radio program yesterday.

Yeung said the rent for the existing stadium in Causeway Bay is too high and local football match organizers cannot afford  it, leading to a low usage. He said existing sports venues should be used effectively and old venues be renovated as there are insufficient facilities.

He also said it is important to add track and field facilities to the Hong Kong Stadium as there is a lack of them on Hong Kong Island.

“In Hong Kong Island, only the Wan Chai and Siu Sai Wan Sports Grounds are capable of hosting proper track and field events. Many schools on Hong Kong Island need to travel to Kowloon or the New Territories to host sports competitions,” he said.

Yeung said the renovation is not meant to replace the functions of the Wan Chai Sports Ground, stating that the aim is to provide an additional sports venue on Hong Kong Island. He emphasized that the government will continue to build more sports venues in the future.

Yeung also said there will be a significant reduction of admission fees after the renovation of Hong Kong Stadium.

“We expect the charge for the revamped stadium to be similar to that of Mong Kok Stadium in the future,” he said.

Yeung also said scaling down the seating capacity of the stadium will provide more working space for sports associations.

“The number of associations have grown in the past two decades and the number of staffers in these associations have also increased. We hope the renovation can provide room for more facilities, such as meeting and storage facilities, to support their operations,” he said.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department submitted a proposal to redevelop Hong Kong Stadium to the Wan Chai District Council early this month. Apart from rebuilding the 400-metres-long track, the proposal also suggests building a multi-purpose conference room and a media center.

Large-scale events, such as the Rugby Sevens, should be held in the Kai Tak Sports Park which is expected to be commissioned in 2023, it proposed.