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The Government has decided to establish a new administrative structure to promote a sustainable and community-wide sporting culture in Hong Kong.

Announcing the decision today (July 8), the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said: "Different sectors of the community will be invited to give advice and will be enlisted as partners in sports development."

"The Government's vision for the long-term sports development needs the participation and support of the community."

Under the proposed administrative structure, a Sports Commission will be set up and will be underpinned by three committees to look after the three elements in the Government's new vision for sports development:

Community Sports Committee

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- A sustainable and community-wide sporting culture whereby people of all age groups participate actively in sports in quest of sound physical and psychological health, as well as positive community spirit.

Elite Sports Committee

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- A cadre of high performance athletes who can compete in major international sports events competitively and become role models of our youth.

Major Sports Events Committee

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- Hong Kong becomes an attractive venue for hosting major international sports events thereby bringing in more tourists and other economic benefits.

Overall coordination in the formulation and implementation of sports policy will be steered by the high-level Sports Commission. Members of the Commission and the three committees will be appointed by the Government.

The Sports Commission will be chaired by the Secretary for Home Affairs, in line with the principle of the Government's accountability system.

Dr Ho said: "The Sports Commission and the three committees will play a pivotal role in initiating a new partnership relationship in sports with various stakeholder groups and different sectors of the community.

"The membership composition and the broad representation of the Sports Commission and the three committees will aim at pooling expertise and experience in sports from different sectors of the community."

With the introduction of the Sports Commission and the three committees, the Sports Development Board will be dissolved while the Hong Kong Sports Institute will be re-constituted to become an incorporated body to undertake matters pertaining to high performance sports training currently under the auspices of the Sports Development Board.

Dr Ho noted that the re-constitution will allow greater flexibility in the management and operation of the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

"The Government remains committed to sports development and will channel savings generated through this exercise to further sports initiatives," he said.

End/Tuesday, July 8, 2003

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