HONG KONG – People in Hong Kong will be able to watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics this summer for free with the government purchasing the broadcasting rights for the sporting extravaganza.

The Games will be broadcast on three free-to-air TV stations and public broadcaster RTHK, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed before the weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday.

The special administrative region government made a similar move for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

The government could not reveal the amount involved for the purchase because of the confidentiality, but the fee was lower than that spent for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and was a value for money, Lee said

The government could not reveal the amount involved for the purchase because of the confidentiality, but the fee was lower than that spent for the Tokyo Olympics and was a value for money, Lee said.

The purchase was a “special consideration” as the government was not trying to change the mode of market competition in bidding the broadcasting right of sport events, he stressed.

“We will work with various TV stations to create multiplying effects and draw up positive atmosphere,” the CE said.

Asked whether the time difference between Hong Kong and Paris will affect the public response as some events cannot be aired during the prime time, Lee said the government had encountered different problems when handling Olympic activities and weighed the positive impact of broadcasting the Tokyo Olympics activities.

The SAR government noticed high expectations from society in experiencing the joy of watching the Games, Lee said, adding that residents could watch the replay during their free time despite the time difference.

The government will also make use of other platforms, including social media, to promote the Olympic Games, he added.