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The Government today (June 20) announced the establishment of a Planning Committee to prepare for the organisation of the 5th East Asian Games.
Hong Kong won the bid in November last year for hosting the 5th East Asian Games in 2009, which will be the first major international multi-sport event ever to be held in the territory.
The Secretary for Homes Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, who is president of the Planning Committee, said: "The Government will work hand in hand with all sectors of the community to host the best ever East Asian Games in 2009. We will work closely with the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of HK, China (SF & OC) to prepare for the Games. The Planning Committee will oversee the overall planning and organising work."
The Planning Committee has a wide representation, with members from the sports field and related government departments, as well as relevant sectors in the community including business, banking, airline, tourism.
The Planning Committee will enlist community support for the Games, develop an action timetable for the organisation of the Games, advise on venue facilities and marketing strategy, and monitor progress of upgrading works on facilities.
"We have already signed a co-operative agreement with the State Sport General Administration of China. This will help us to draw reference from the preparatory work for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which will strengthen our expertise to organise the 2009 Games. I will also attend the coming Athens Olympics together with the staff of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department for supporting Hong Kong athletes as well as gathering experience and knowledge on how major sports events are organised," Dr Ho said.
As regards facilities, Dr Ho emphasised that Hong Kong had good existing sports venues which could be upgraded to readily support the holding of the 2009 Games.
"Moreover, we also have new venues to be rolled out under the normal Public Works Programme. For example, the Ma On Shan Sports Centre will be ready for public use within a few months. The Sports Centre cost $150 million and it will be one of the largest indoor sports centres in the territory which can be used for holding gymnastics, fencing, table-tennis competitions, etc. We are also planning to build a new sports ground at Tseung Kwan O which will provide both main and warm-up facilities for holding international athletic competitions in Hong Kong. A bowling centre will also be developed at Tseung Kwan O under the private sector financing approach," Dr Ho said.
The membership of the East Asian Games Planning Committee is as follows:
Patron: Mr Tung Chee Hwa, Chief Executive
President: Dr Patrick Ho Chi-ping, JP, Secretary for Home Affairs
Chairman: Mr Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, SBS, JP, President, SF&OC
Vice Chairman: Ms Anissa Wong Sean-yee, JP, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
Members:
Mr John Chan Cho-chak, OBE, LVO, CBE,GBS, JP
Mr David Chan Pun
Mr Philip Chen Nan-lok, JP
Ms Clara Chong Ming-wah
Mrs Vivien Fung Lau Chiang-chu, JP
Mr Victor Hui Chun-fui, MBE, JP
Mr Hu Shao-ming, JP
Mr Karl C Kwok
Mr Raymond Or Ching-fai
Mr Lawrence Yu Kam-kee, MBE, JP
Director of Home Affairs or her representative
Director of Information Services or her representative
Commissioner for Tourism or her representative
Director of Architectural Services or his representative
Ms Lolly Chiu, JP, Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs
Secretary General:
Mr Pang Chung, BBS
Mr Alan Siu Yu-bun, Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
Ends/Sunday, June 20, 2004
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