Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu attends the Chief Executive's Interactive Exchange Question and Answer Session at the Legislative Council on Jan 25, 2024. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday painted a bright picture of Hong Kong as a city that can host major events, attracting more visitors and boosting economic growth while providing residents with a share in the development dividends. Such a move would also help dampen the impact that external markets could have on Hong Kong’s economy amid tense geopolitical circumstances, he said. 

During a questions and answers session at the city’s legislature, Lee expressed his strong support for staging a wide range of major events in Hong Kong, such as music concerts starring world-acclaimed singers, and lectures featuring Nobel Prize laureates.

Lawmaker Chan Pui-leung said that while Hong Kong hosts numerous events, there is a lack of focused, thematic events which have a strong brand impact. Chan hopes that the government will step up efforts to develop such events 

He added that the ability to organize such endeavors would depend on the availability and cooperation of the invited parties. He said that while the government actively promotes the city, the participation of the entire Hong Kong community is also essential.

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Lee said there is still a need to enhance venue availability. Plans include the construction of new facilities and the development of a comprehensive and diverse event economy.

He said that the highly anticipated Kai Tak Sports Park is expected to be completed by the end of this year or in the fourth quarter. The main stadium will boast a seating capacity of approximately 50,000, with additional indoor sports venues accommodating around 10,000 spectators. 

The government plans to renovate some of its old buildings in Wan Chai, transforming them into exhibition spaces, Lee said. Expansion work is also underway for the AsiaWorld-Expo. He added that these infrastructure projects are expected to increase the city’s event hosting capacity by approximately 40 percent, but cautioned that they would take time to complete.

Lee also said that events could also be held in the New Territories, including in the Northern Metropolis area. The government aims to develop large-scale themed venues in this region, providing additional options and ample space for hosting a variety of events.

Lawmaker Chan Pui-leung said that while Hong Kong hosts numerous events, there is a lack of focused, thematic events which have a strong brand impact. Chan hopes that the government will step up efforts to develop such events. 

In response, Lee said he strongly supports the staging of brand events in Hong Kong. He cited the example of a French brand event recently held in Hong Kong, which significantly contributed to promoting the city's image internationally.

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Lee said that events serve a dual purpose. They not only enhance Hong Kong's visibility but also provide positive personal experiences and are of great benefit to the participants. For instance, while there have been false and negative narratives about a “lack of freedom” in Hong Kong, visitors to the city will soon discover that it is not only a free and open society, but one that is also vibrant and prosperous, he added.