The government will consider joint promotional campaigns for the 15th National Games and the Legislative Council elections to maximize public engagement and economic benefits, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said.

The National Games, co-hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, will take place in early November while the Legislative Council elections are scheduled for December 7.

Law emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring widespread publicity, stating that the close timing of these events presents an opportunity for synergistic promotion.

She noted that while the campaigns may highlight different aspects, such as sports and civic participation, the goal is to create a cohesive messaging strategy.

Authorities anticipate around 100,000 spectators for the National Games, but lawmaker Ma Fung-kwok expressed disappointment, suggesting that more aggressive promotion targeting mainland visitors could help boost attendance and create a festive atmosphere.

Tourism sector lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung raised questions about ticketing arrangements, urging cross-border coordination to allocate tickets for sports tourism packages.

Law acknowledged the importance of early ticketing decisions, revealing that the issue was discussed during a recent meeting with organizers in Guangzhou.

She assured that the government would work to clarify ticket availability for local travel agencies as soon as possible.

Lawmaker Benson Luk Hon-man inquired about potential collaborations with hospitality and aviation industries to develop sports-themed travel products, encouraging visitors to extend their stays, including through multi-destination tourism.

Law responded that discussions among the three hosting regions are in the final stages, with details on ticket sales to be announced soon.

She added that the tourism sector has already been briefed on competition schedules to facilitate early preparations.

(Ayra Wang)

HK eyes combined campaign for National Games, Legislative polls