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1. HK will spend $1b on sports venues for 2009 Games

2. $1b sports ground to be built for Games

1. HK will spend $1b on sports venues for 2009 Games
ALVIN SALLAY in Macau, SCMP 31 October 2005

The government plans to spend $1 billion on sports facilities for the 2009 East Asian Games, Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping said yesterday, outlining funding plans for the first time.

The plans include $300 million for a track and field stadium now being built in Tseung Kwan O, with $700 million to be spent refurbishing 10 existing venues.

"We in Hong Kong are totally committed to making the 2009 East Asian Games a success," Dr Ho told 400 guests at a "Hong Kong Night" held under the shadow of the Macau Tower.

The proposed state-of-the-art multi-purpose stadium on the former Kai Tak airport site will not be included in the 2009 Games plans due to time constraints.

Unlike Macau, which had to build facilities from scratch to host the ongoing 4th East Asian Games, the Hong Kong government believes the existing infrastructure is capable of holding the regional games. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Hong Kong Stadium.

The Macau government spent $4 billion on 17 projects, most of them new, to hold the 17 sports being contested by nine countries and regions. Hong Kong is building only one new facility - the Tseung Kwan O track and field stadium.

"The Legislative Council has approved $300 million to build the Tseung Kwan O sports ground, which comprises a main sports ground and a secondary ground that will be used for the East Asian Games track and field events and other international athletic events," Dr Ho said.

"To cater for the East Asian Games, we will also carry out enhancement works to more than 10 indoor and outdoor sports venues. Such enhancement works will include thematic designs, renovation works, additional new facilities as well as installation of facilities for doping control and a media centre.

"The total cost will amount to more than $700 million. Detailed plans will be submitted to Legco soon to seek funding approval."

Among the existing facilities that will get a facelift are the ageing Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Kowloon Park Indoor Swimming Pool.

Dr Ho also revealed that the operational cost for staging the 2009 Games was more than likely to rise from the $170 million approved by the Legislative Council in 2003 - on the provision that $90 million be offset by the sale of TV rights and other related income.

He said the government was reviewing the budget and would consult Legco's Home Affairs Panel on it by the end of this year. A 2009 East Asian Games planning committee has already been formed and is chaired by Dr Ho, with representatives from the sports sector and the community.

Paying a tribute to Macau's hosting of this year's Games, Dr Ho said: "We can all see what an enormous undertaking it has been and we wish them well. In 2009 Hong Kong would like to host a spectacular Games."

A taste of what could come in 2009 was provided by Hong Kong songbird Francis Yip, who serenaded guests - including Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah and tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun - with a rendition of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World.

However, local sports officials warn it may not be all that wonderful for Hong Kong, which will need to move fast if it is to come anywhere near matching Macau's stunning opening ceremony and smooth-running Games.

"Our success will not just have to be about building facilities, we need the whole community to get involved," said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee. "We will have to live up to the benchmark which has been set by Macau."

2. $1b sports ground to be built for Games
Staff reporter, The Standard 31 October 2005

Hong Kong will spend more than HK$1 billion building an international standard sports ground and upgrading existing sports venues for the 5th East Asian Games, to be staged in the SAR in 2009.

Hong Kong will spend more than HK$1 billion building an international standard sports ground and upgrading existing sports venues for the 5th East Asian Games, to be staged in the SAR in 2009.

Speaking before attending Hong Kong Night in Macau Sunday to promote the Games, Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho said the Legislative Council has approved about HK$300 million to build the Tseung Kwan O sports ground to stage track and field and other international athletic events.

"To cater for the holding of various EAG events, we will also carry out enhancement works to more than 10 indoor and outdoor sports venues," Ho said.

"Such enhancement works will include thematic designs, renovation works, additional new facilities, as well as installation of facilities for doping control and a media center. The total costs will amount to more than HK$700 million.

"The detailed plans and estimates will be submitted to the Legco soon to seek funding approval," he said.

Ho noted that an operations cost of HK$170 million had been approved by Legco in 2003 and that the government is reviewing the budget in accordance with the Games' projected income and expenditure.

The government will consult the Legco home affairs panel by the end of this year before submitting the proposal to the finance committee, Ho said.

A planning committee of sports and community representatives, set up in the middle of last year, had met several times to discuss Games preparations, such as upgrading facilities financial arrangements.