Hong Kong's exciting lineup of mega events set to attract tourists and boost economy

The mega events scheduled in Hong Kong for the first half of this year are expected to draw 840,000 tourists and generate HK$3.3 billion in consumption, according to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.

Lee said that next month will kick off “Hong Kong Super March,” featuring a range of arts and culture events, including Art Basel, Art Central, ComplexCon, and a special exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s work at the M+ Museum.

March will also be a significant month for sports, with the World Grand Prix 2025 in snooker and the Hong Kong Sevens taking place at the Kai Tak Sports Park for the first time. 

The park is set to officially open on March 1, marking an important milestone for the city's culture, sports, and tourism sectors. 

Lee said that details of the opening ceremony will be revealed this week.

While he sidestepped questions regarding the absence of a live broadcast for the ceremony, he assured that the event would be available for free on television. 

“We certainly hope that all citizens will have the opportunity to watch the events at the opening ceremony that evening. I believe everyone will be very happy and look forward to the evening, and the most important thing is that people can watch it for free," Lee said.

He expressed confidence that the production team would deliver an impressive performance for the citizens.

Lee refrained from commenting on the potential attendance of top Beijing officials but confirmed that he would be present to officiate the event.

In another highlight, the first Hong Kong-born giant panda cubs made their public debut at Ocean Park over the weekend, attracting over 9,000 visitors in just two days, according to Lee.

(Jamie Liu)