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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, today (January 26) visited a new sports ground in Wong Tai Sin and toured the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) in Sha Tin where he met local athletes and inspected the upgraded and renovated facilities.
At his first stop, the Po Kong Village Road Park, the Chief Executive was briefed by officers of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Architectural Services Department. Opened to the public last September, the park is equipped with third-generation artificial turf that can be used as two soccer or rugby pitches or one cricket pitch. With a covered spectator stand with 1,000 seats and supporting facilities for matches, the pitch can be used as a venue for Hong Kong Football Association matches and team training.
"Football is a popular sport in Hong Kong. I pledged in my Policy Address last year to promote the development of local football, and to build and upgrade football pitches. In the coming five years, we will open 21 new or converted third-generation artificial turf pitches to the public, bringing the total number of third-generation artificial turf pitches in Hong Kong to 36 to meet the demand of football teams and the general public," Mr Tsang said.
Mr Tsang also inspected the phase two of the park project, which includes the construction of a BMX venue of the top standard in Asia, and the longest elevated cycling track in Hong Kong. These facilities are expected to open to the public in the third quarter of this year. The entire project costs about $480 million.
Accompanied by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, the Chief Executive later met some athletes and coaches at the HKSI and toured its upgraded and renovated facilities, including new sports science equipment such as a multi-functional high-speed treadmill for cycling training and an environmental chamber which simulates conditions with different temperature and humidity.
The first phase of the $1.8 billion redevelopment of the HKSI was completed last February. The construction of new facilities started last October, and the project will be substantially completed in late 2012.
During the lunch with coaches and current and retired athletes at the HKSI, Mr Tsang stressed that the Government attached great importance to helping athletes after their retirement from top-level competition and would continue to provide them with educational and career guidance support. He said that the government would discuss with tertiary institutions to explore more flexible arrangements for elite athletes to pursue tertiary education.
"The facilities that I have visited today represent only a small fraction of the 18 new sports venues that are currently under construction across Hong Kong. Our total investment in these projects is more than $10 billion. I have asked the relevant departments to push ahead with the projects under planning to meet the needs of the community and of the long-term development of sport in Hong Kong.
"Although we are not in a position to bid to host the 2023 Asian Games, we are determined to continue to promote sport in Hong Kong. We will increase our investment in community sport, training of athletes, support for elite athletes, and the construction and improvement of sports facilities," the Chief Executive said.
Ends/Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:45
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