Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui declared Hong Kong’s performance at the just-concluded 15th National Games “outstanding” on Saturday, praising the city’s 602 athletes for delivering a historic 19 medals while proving the city can stage world-class events alongside Guangdong and Macau.
Appearing on a morning radio program, Law said she deliberately avoided predicting medal tallies before the Games to spare athletes extra pressure, but once they were able to “play freely and perform at their true level,” she always believed medals would follow.
The final haul of nine golds, two silvers and eight bronzes exceeded every previous Hong Kong delegation.
She described turnout as impressive, with the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Main Stadium drawing a record 25,000 fans for the rugby sevens finals and venues for fencing, handball, and beach volleyball packed to capacity.
Overall ticket sales hit around 45 percent, which she called satisfactory for introducing lesser-known sports to the public.
Law stressed that success went far beyond the podium, highlighting the seamless Greater Bay Area collaboration, the thousands of volunteers of all ages, and the chance to showcase “one country, two systems” in action.
She promised the government would keep investing heavily in both facilities and athlete support, even in tough fiscal times, citing the new Kai Tak Sports Park, a HK$1 billion boost to the Sports Institute, and expanded funding packages.
Looking ahead, she confirmed plans to secure more prime training slots for the men’s handball team after their best-ever fourth place, explore evening use of idle venues, and push a dedicated fencing center through funding approval within the current term.
On football’s painful Asian Cup Qualifiers exit, she urged patience, insisting progress demands long-term commitment to youth development and better grass pitches rather than judging one result.
Law wrapped up by celebrating the broader impact: major events this year have driven strong retail and tourism spending, with cultural merchandise regularly selling out, proof that sport remains a powerful engine for Hong Kong’s economy and global reputation.
