Think tank proposes ‘Young’ Mark scheme to supplement ‘M’ Mark, boosting sports entertainment 

The SAR government should establish a “Young” Mark system to support events with the potential to qualify for the established “M” Mark scheme, offering funding of up to HK$10 million per event, think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation proposed on Thursday.

The suggestion was put forward in a report released today, which outlined a total of 22 specific policy recommendations across six key areas, including the promotion of sports entertainment.

The research team conducted interviews with more than 50 stakeholders and drew on regional best practices to analyze the challenges of hosting large-scale sporting events in Hong Kong. The goal is to advance the city’s development as a “world capital of major sports events.”

According to the report, the proposed “Young” Mark scheme could sponsor events such as international-scale masters tournaments, which target senior and middle-aged elite athletes. 

This demographic tends to have higher spending power and can drive demand for local hotels and entertainment services.

Funding was also recommended for youth competitions, which are expected to enhance the competitive skills and confidence of local athletes while encouraging increased family spending.

Additionally, the think tank suggested that hosting national professional leagues—with a single season spanning 20 to 30 matches—could attract non-local fans to Hong Kong, thereby generating greater economic benefits.

The report also recommends adjusting the funding structure for exhibition events under the existing “M” Mark scheme.

It proposes that the government contribute 30 percent of the funding, with enterprises covering the remaining 70 percent, reflecting the more commercialized nature of these events compared to regular tournaments.

Jane Lee Ching-yee, president of the foundation, noted that Hong Kong is ushering in an unprecedented opportunity for sports development. The upcoming Kai Tak Sports Park is expected to host multiple large-scale events each month, in addition to the National Games in November.

It is estimated that the major events organized by the government in the first half of the year will attract 840,000 tourists, generating HK$3.3 billion in revenue and HK$1.8 billion in economic value added.