LCQ17: Promoting sports development
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Following is a question by the Hon Holden Chow and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Caspar Tsui, in the Legislative Council today (October 20):
Question:
Earlier on, the Government announced a number of measures to promote sports development, including expediting the construction of the new facilities building of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), and launching a Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme to strengthen the provision of support on sports science and sports medicine for Hong Kong athletes, thereby enhancing athletes' standards. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of (i) full-time and (ii) part-time HKSI staff members providing support on sports science and sports medicine for athletes in each of the past five years, with a breakdown by service type and post;
(2) of the additional number of sports science and sports medicine professionals that HKSI needs to recruit for implementing the aforesaid measures, with a breakdown by service type and post; HKSI's measures and channels for attracting relevant high-level professionals to join HKSI; and
(3) of the progress of the discussion between the Government and the business and sports sectors on promoting the industrialization of sports, as well as providing retired athletes and young people with more sports-related jobs and development opportunities?
Reply:
President,
The Government is committed to taking forward the development of elite sports in Hong Kong. On August 10, 2021, we announced various measures conducive to the sustainable development of sports in Hong Kong, including expediting the new facilities building project of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), and financing jointly with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to set up the $300 million Sports Science and Research Funding Scheme, which enhances support in sports science and sports medicine, in order to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong athletes and help them better prepare for major international sports events in the coming few years.
The outstanding achievements of Hong Kong athletes in international competitions are only made possible with the professional training and support services they received. Currently, the HKSI's Elite Training Science and Technology Division (ETSTD) provides dedicated facilities and support services in sports science and sports medicine through a number of support centres including the Scientific Conditioning Centre, the Sport Biomechanics & Technology Centre, the Sports Medicine Centre, the Sport Psychology Centre, the Sport Nutrition Monitoring Centre and the Sports Information and External Affairs Centre.
My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(1) The HKSI has strengthened the manpower of ETSTD progressively. To enhance support to athletes, from 2016-17 to 2020-21, the total number of full-time and part-time posts has increased from 95 to 127, as detailed below:
| Year | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | |||||
| Posts | FT | PT | FT | PT | FT | PT | FT | PT | FT | PT |
| Scientific Conditioning Centre | ||||||||||
| Manager | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Officer | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Assistant | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Research Assistant and Statistician | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 23 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Sport Biomechanics & Technology Centre | ||||||||||
| Sport Engineer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Officer | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Assistant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Data Assistant | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Sports Medicine Centre | ||||||||||
| Manager | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| General Practitioner | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Coordinator | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sport Massage Therapist | 11 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Physiotherapist (Note) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| Nurse | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Clinical Officer | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 25 | 11 | 29 | 12 | 35 | 13 | 38 | 11 | 38 | 7 |
| Sport Psychology Centre | ||||||||||
| Sport Psychologist | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Research Assistant | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Sport Nutrition Monitoring Centre | ||||||||||
| Manager | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sport Nutritionist | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Officer | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Research Assistant and Technician | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Sports Information and External Affairs Centre | ||||||||||
| Manager | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Officer | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Research Assistant | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sub-total: | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| ETSTD Administrative Posts | ||||||||||
| Director | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Assistant Director | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Administrative Assistant | 9 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| Sub-total: | 10 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| Total: | 84 | 11 | 92 | 14 | 105 | 15 | 114 | 13 | 118 | 9 |
(2) Upon the completion of the Tokyo Olympics Games and Paralympic Games, the HKSI is currently collecting feedback from stakeholders including "national sports associations", coaches and athletes. The views collected will be taken into account in the HKSI's plan for future development, including the manpower requirement for sports science and sports medicine support services. The HKSI will also keep the remuneration packages for all grades of staff under regular reviews to ensure that they remain competitive in the market.
The HKSI has been actively collaborating with local universities to provide students with internship opportunities related to sports science and sports medicine. This helps students acquire knowledge and skills in athletes support, nurture more relevant local talents, and attract talents to join the HKSI or engage in sports related work in the future.
(3) In addition to the policy objectives of supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events and promoting sports in the community, we will explore ways to further promote sports development in Hong Kong through enhanced professionalism in the sports sector and development of sports as an industry. The commissioning of the Kai Tak Sports Park in 2023 and opportunities arising from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will foster more diversified development in sports and provide young people as well as retired athletes with job and development opportunities. The Secretary for Home Affairs will chair a working group and discuss with the business and sports sectors on how to further support the development of the sports industry in Hong Kong.
At the same time, the Government will continue to provide support for retired athletes. As announced in the 2021 Policy Address, we will allocate more resources to expand the Retired Athletes Transformation Programme (RATP). More than 70 retired athletes have joined the RATP so far. Our target is to double the number of retired athletes joining the RATP within five years to provide them with more opportunities for career transformation.
Note: The HKSI adjusts the number of medical staff, including physiotherapists, according to actual needs. To ensure the quality of the services provided, the HKSI would employ full-time staff as far as possible. The number of full-time physiotherapists increased from 10 in 2017-18 to 14 in 2018-19. In 2020-21, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, less athletes participated in overseas training and competitions. Therefore, no part-time physiotherapists were employed by the HKSI.
Ends/Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Issued at HKT 12:05
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