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The Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) today (May 23) released its Report on the Sports Policy Review to start a two-month public consultation on a package of recommendations for sports development in Hong Kong.
The report sets out the key areas of concern with regard to the current state of sports development in Hong Kong and suggests a number of potential areas for improvements.
Speaking at a press conference, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr W K Lam, said, "We need a clearly articulated strategic policy for sport and an effective structure for the delivery and development of sport in Hong Kong,"
"We hope that this report provides a basis for wider discussion in the community before we draw up a detailed blueprint for sports development," he said.
During the review on sports policy and related matters, HAB conducted extensive consultation with the local sports community and researched into the sporting structure and practices in other places. The report discussed a wide range of issues and outlined the direction for future sports policy in the following areas-
(a) promote public participation in sport;
(b) encourage wider participation of student in sport;
(c) venue planning and development;
(d) support for high performance sport;
(e) support for disabled athletes;
(f) the administrative structure for sport; and
(g) public funding for sport.
In respect of the administrative structure for the delivery of sports services, Mr Lam said the report has observed that the major problem with the current structure was a perceived overlap and lack of clarity in the delineation of responsibilities between various stakeholders and a lack of a clear central authority responsible for overall policy, planning, coordination and monitoring of sport development.
"The review has recommended the setting up of a Sports Commission responsible for strategic policy planning and overall coordination, and proposed three possible options for achieving this, including an option to dissolve the Hong Kong Sports Development Board. The other two options are upgrading SDB to be a Sports Commission and establishing a Sports Commission while consequently narrowing the role and functions of SDB," he said.
"As any changes in the current administrative structure for sport is a key part of the review, it is important that we listen to the views of the wider Hong Kong community before a decision is made." he added.
The review also seeks to promote a more active sporting culture by the development of more community sports clubs and by taking a more strategic, proactive and innovative approach in the planning, design and management of public sports venues.
As regards the planning of major sports facilities, Mr Lam said the report has noted that the present collection of major sports facilities have a number of constraints and thus limit Hong Kong's capacity in hosting major sports events.
"To assess the case for new major sports facilities and their financial viability, we thus recommend that technical and financial feasibility studies for a proposed new stadium in Southeast Kowloon and a proposed new multi-purpose indoor arena in Lai Chi Kok, West Kowloon should be conducted," he said.
"The proposed studies should explore new delivery modes, such as public/private partnership, planning parameters and development options, in order to enhance the financial viability and sustainability of the facilities," he added.
"It is important that the community discuss these issues and send in their views to enable us to draw up a long-term strategic policy that would help develop a stronger sporting culture, achieve greater excellence in sports by our elite athletes; and raise our international profile on sport," Mr Lam said.
Copies of the report are now available in District Offices of the Home Affairs Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Members of the public can also access the report from the Home Affairs Bureau's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/hab).
End/Thursday, May 23, 2002
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