LCQ11: Operation and development of Hong Kong Stadium
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Question:
Hong Kong Stadium (HKS) is one of the few venues in Hong Kong that meets the standards stipulated in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Stadium Regulations, enabling it to host AFC-sanctioned international matches. "The Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address" proposed that a fresh review of the redevelopment plan for the HKS will be conducted to ensure its synergy with the Kai Tak Sports Park. There are views that the HKS, with its comprehensive internal facilities and supporting infrastructure, has the potential to support the development of sports as an industry, which can further make up for the shortage of professional sports venues. Regarding the operation and development of the HKS, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the operational staffing costs of the HKS in the past three years, as well as the expenditures incurred on the repair and maintenance of facilities (e.g. turf, athletics tracks, field facilities and other ancillary facilities), with a tabulated breakdown by item;
(2) as it is learnt that apart from the sports ground facilities, there are a total of 50 executive suites, a dozen of restaurants, lounges and bars, as well as facilities such as car parks, conference rooms and offices in the HKS, of the revenues generated from the various HKS facilities in each of the past three years, including venue and facility rental income (e.g. the rental of venues for sports training, events and competitions, as well as the rental of suites), catering and retail service income, as well as guided tour service income (set out in a table);
(3) of (i) the utilisation rate of the HKS and (ii) the following information on the events held at the HKS in the past three years: dates, attendances, event scale, event type (e.g. football matches or community activities) and venue hirer type (e.g. sports organisations, community groups or commercial organisations) (set out in a table);
(4) given that the Government proposed in earlier years to redevelop the HKS by converting it into a public sports ground and reducing its seating capacity to 9 000, but there are views in the community that the Government should retain the current scale of HKS and further develop it into a venue dedicated to sports events to meet the needs of developing sports professionalism and sports as an industry, and that it should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the actual demand for sports facilities in the district before making further planning, whether the Government has systematically analysed the specific data (e.g. utilisation rates) on similar sports grounds and sports facilities in the district, so as to effectively assess the redevelopment plan for HKS and the relevant demands; and
(5) given that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) earlier on announced a reformed hiring policy and measures for its performance venues, aiming to establish clearer venue identities, and foster a diversified, professional, industry and mega-event development of performing arts, whether the authorities will, by making reference to such practice, consider proposing a reform direction for the development of sports professionalism and sports as an industry, including realigning the positioning of HKS in line with sports policy objectives, and conducting a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the LCSD in operating the HKS, so as to alleviate the financial pressure on the Government?
Reply:
President,
The Government has all along been committed to promoting sports development proactively through a multi-pronged approach with a view to implementing the five key policy objectives, namely promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, promoting Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism and developing sports as an industry. Various large-scale sports infrastructure and venues, including the Hong Kong Stadium (HKS) and the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) which was officially commissioned on March 1 of this year, are crucial for the Government's continued development of both sports as an industry and the host city economy. In the 2024 Policy Address, the Government proposed to make full use of various venues to host large-scale international competitions. It aimed to create favourable conditions for the long-term development of the sports industry and ensure the synergy among the HKS, the KTSP and other venues, thereby making better use of various venues in Hong Kong to promote the development of sports and mega event economy.
My reply to the Hon Kenneth Fok's question is as follows:
(1) Information on the manpower and operating expenditure incurred by the HKS in the past three years is tabulated below:
| 2022-23 ($ million) |
2023-24 ($ million) |
2024-25 ($ million) |
|
| Manpower expenditure | 15.78 | 17.34 | 15.49 |
| Operating expenditure | 45.13 | 44.77 | 41.73 |
| - Repair and maintenance (turf and facilities) | 22.60 | 15.44 | 16.56 |
| - Others (including electricity, gas, hire of services, professional fees, administration and communications) | 22.53 | 29.33 | 25.17 |
| Total expenditure: | 60.91 | 62.11 | 57.22 |
(2) Information on the revenue generated from facilities and services of the HKS in the past three years is tabulated below:
| 2022-23* ($ million) |
2023-24 ($ million) |
2024-25 ($ million) |
|
| Income from rental of venue and facilities (including venue facilities, suites and sports training) | 17.54 | 38.72 | 22.92 |
| Income from catering and retail services (including restaurants and merchandise sales) | 1.57 | 4.57 | 11.23 |
| Income from guided tour service | 0.002 | 0.002 | 0.004 |
| Other income (including carpark, advertising and location filming) | 2.78 | 4.04 | 3.24 |
| Total income: | 21.892 | 47.332 | 37.394 |
(3) Information on the events held at the HKS in the past three years is tabulated below. Please refer to the Annex for details.
| 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | |
| Number of ball games | 11 | 15 | 13 |
| Number of other events | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Total number of events: | 16 | 17 | 16 |
(4) The Government once preliminarily considered to convert the HKS into a public sports ground after completion of the KTSP. In view of the imminent commissioning of the KTSP, the Government proposed in the 2024 Policy Address to review the redevelopment plan for the HKS. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) will make reference to the operation of the KTSP as well as the demand and operation of other sports facilities to further assess and formulate the future positioning of the HKS and its long-term development with a view to complementing the strengths of relevant sports facilities to achieve greater synergy. At present, the HKS continues to serve as a major venue for large-scale events. A number of major sports events have been/will be held at HKS in 2025, including the exhibition match between the Hong Kong, China Representative Team and Manchester United in May, the open training of AC Milan last week at the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025, and the upcoming Saudi Super Cup in this August. We are open to any suggestions for making good use of the HKS.
(5) Commissioned in March this year, the KTSP offers multiple venues of international standard equipped with advanced facilities, providing excellent conditions and vast opportunities for promoting Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events and supporting elite sports. Numerous large-scale sports events have been held at the KTSP within its first five months of opening, including the Hong Kong Sevens, the Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong 2025 and the Hong Kong Football Festival 2025 which is currently underway. The CSTB will closely monitor the usage of various venue facilities after the opening of the KTSP and review their positioning to fully leverage on the unique advantages of each venue in hosting different types of international and local competitions and maximise the synergy effect, thereby enhancing public interest in sports and expanding the audience of sports enthusiasts. This will further promote sports in the community and support elite sports while promoting Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events and developing sports as an industry. When formulating the future positioning and long-term development of the HKS, the Government will also review its operational effectiveness to better utilise its role in promoting sports development.
Ends/Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 12:50
Issued at HKT 12:50
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