Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday highlighted that next month will feature many grand sports, cultural and artistic events which will significantly bolster the local economy.
He also noted that March will mark a new stage of the special administrative region’s trading relationship with the Chinese mainland.
Indicating that a series of mega events are also scheduled following “Super March”, Lee said the vibrant activities in the first half of this year are expected to attract around 840,000 visitors to the city, generate HK$3.3 billion ($424 million) in consumption and give a HK$1.8 billion boost to the city’s economy.
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Addressing reporters before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee noted that the public debut of the city’s first locally-born twin giant panda cubs received an enthusiastic response from residents and visitors, with nearly 9,000 people visiting the Ocean Park to see the pandas on Sunday and Monday.
Riding on panda fever, the city will celebrate another milestone event for its culture, sports, and tourism sectors on March 1, when the HK$30-billion Kai Tak Sports Park, the city’s largest sports stadium, officially opens, Lee said.
The Special Administrative Region government will unveil the detailed arrangements of the park’s opening ceremony this week, Lee said.
The Kai Tak Sports Park will host events such as the World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 and the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, which are expected to boost dining and consumption revenue.
The Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling will host the signature LIV Golf event from March 7 to 9, which is expected to attract 40,000 attendees and bring in approximately HK$200 million in economic benefits.
Starting on March 15, M+ in Kowloon will host a four-month mega Picasso exhibition, and events such as ComplexCon Hong Kong and the Art Basel exhibition will also take place in the city in late March.
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Additionally, a new trade in services pact that further opens the Chinese mainland market to Hong Kong’s professional sectors will also take effect on March 1.
The pact, which is the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the Mainland & Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Agreement on Trade in Services, was signed last year.
Lee revealed that the Hong Kong government and the nation’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) will jointly conduct a briefing session on Wednesday to introduce specific open measures in various industries under the new pact.
Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com
