Hong Kong’s bet on blockbuster events is paying dividends as the city positions itself as a premier Asian destination for world-class concerts, sports tournaments and cultural spectacles.

Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Hong Kong’s secretary for culture, sports and tourism, made the remarks to China Daily in an exclusive interview recently.

Since assuming office in December, Law has spearheaded an ambitious plan to leverage high-profile events that deliver both immediate economic benefits and long-term tourism growth.

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The strategy comes as Hong Kong accelerates its post-pandemic recovery amid tight fiscal conditions.

The crown jewel of this initiative is the HK$31.9 billion ($4.11 billion) Kai Tak Sports Park, which opened in March. Its 50,000-seat stadium has already hosted marquee events such as the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, and concerts of British rock band Coldplay — both achieving sold-out success.

“With all these investments, of course you want some economic returns, particularly when finances are tight,” she said.

The impact extends far beyond ticket sales. These events create jobs, extend visitor stays, and showcase Hong Kong’s diverse tourism offerings, Law said.

For example, during late March, when Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 and the Hong Kong Sevens ran concurrently, over half the passengers on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car were out-of-town visitors, while high-end hotels reported near-full occupancy, Law said.

The culture chief highlighted Hong Kong’s unique position as a global “East meets West” cultural hub, serving two key functions: showcasing Chinese cultural products to international audiences, and allowing Chinese creative professionals to test and refine their offerings through global feedback before their works get wider release.

She said the city boasts a diverse, culturally sophisticated audience that provides valuable insights for mainland productions.

An ideal showcase for this strategic advantage will be the upcoming 13th Asia Cultural Co-operation Forum, to take place April 22-23, at which cultural leaders from across Asia will gather to explore new trends and forge partnerships.

“Hong Kong can serve as a window display to show people what is on offer in the shop,” she said, emphasizing the city's commitment to facilitating the nation’s cultural exchanges.

Law said she pins high hope on the Kai Tak Sports Park, hailing it as a landmark in Hong Kong’s pursuit of a mega-event economy in the post-pandemic era, even as the venue faces teething problems, including ticket scalping and operational challenges.

The park’s inaugural events have seen extraordinary demand, with tickets for its HK$10 opening ceremony reportedly resold for up to HK$1,800. The phenomenon recurred during the Coldplay concerts, at which scalpers allegedly commanded premiums exceeding HK$1,000 per ticket.

Law said the special administrative region government has intensified its crackdown on ticket scalpers, with five arrested for suspected ticket reselling outside Kai Tak Stadium during Coldplay’s concert series, which opened on Tuesday.

“The law enforcement action was actually a very good message, strong message,” she said, urging fans to use official channels to buy tickets.

Authorities are now evaluating additional anti-scalping measures, including the potential implementation of a real-name registration system for buyers. However, Law said, any new policies must strike a balance between effectiveness and commercial viability, acknowledging the practical challenges that event organizers face in implementing such systems.

The park’s glittering debut has also been somewhat eclipsed by logistics issues.

During the World Snooker Grand Prix 2025, organizers were sharply criticized when about 100 spectators were abruptly ejected from the arena as transportation services wound down at midnight, cutting short their tournament experience.

Law attributed this to the learning curve of operating the new facility. “I don’t think we necessarily aimed for perfection on the very first day or the first event of Kai Tak. What we look for is proper handling of these events,” she said.

When asked to evaluate her performance since assuming office, Law said it is for the public to judge, though she observed a growing confidence in Hong Kong’s tourism and mega-event economy following the downturn in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Law also said that her social media accounts help her gauge public sentiment.

For example, music fans from the Chinese mainland have swarmed to one of Law’s posts on Xiaohongshu, a popular lifestyle app, raising complaints about printing errors on tickets for Coldplay’s concerts. The affected tickets, priced at HK$1,399, contained incorrect information that forced attendees to incur additional travel expenses and time costs to exchange.

While her busy schedule may prevent direct responses, Law said she reads “everything” — from complaints about overpriced drinks at Kai Tak Sports Park to concert expectations — to better understand young attendees’ perspectives.

Xue Jingqi contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at lilei@chinadailyhk.com