Call for trial runs at Sevens' new home

Wallis Wang

Lawmakers, tourism industry representatives and bar owners have urged the government to conduct trial runs prior to the official relocation of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to the main stadium of the Kai Tak Sports Park next year.

The recently concluded Sevens, which took place at Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po for the last time, drew more than 100,000 visitors, over 40 percent of whom are international travelers.

Major Sports Events Committee vice chairman and lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun has called on the government to prepare for the next Sevens, stressing the importance of conducting trial runs to assess the adequacy of facilities at Kai Tak.

He suggested that the park, which is expected to be completed by the third or fourth quarter this year, could host small-scale competitions or events as trial runs.

"The next Hong Kong Sevens will take place in April next year and I hope preparation begins within a year before the tournament," Cheng said. "It's not ideal for the sports park to start off with a large-scale, 50,000-people match in April. We should host a smaller match with only 10,000 people in December or next January - two to three months before the Sevens - so we can test the capability of the venue."

Timothy Chui Ting-pong, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, supported the idea of arranging shuttle buses to transport spectators to other popular destinations after the matches. "Many visitors expressed interest in traveling to places like Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay and Lan Kwai Fong but were unsure about transportation options," Chui said. "The tourism sector can play a role in organizing shuttle buses to take tourists to these areas."

The local bar industry also anticipates a boost in business in Kai Tak due to sports events like the Sevens. Bars near Hong Kong Stadium and in Lan Kwai Fong experienced an increase of 20 to 50 percent in business during the last tournament.

Hong Kong Bar and Club Association chairman Chin Chun-wing said: "The Sevens has attracted a lot of foreign tourists and they have high spending power, spending HK$800 to HK$1,500 per head, which is higher than mainland tourists'."

Chin expressed the hope that if the future development of Kai Tak is done properly, more entrepreneurs will be inclined to invest in bars or restaurants there, supporting the government's goal to develop the district.

He said it is important for the government to organize large-scale events to attract customers from different demographics and boost consumption.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com