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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
279
One or two years ago, this Council moved to ask for increasing resources for middle level sports training. As we all know, many NSAs applied to this Council for venue support when staging mega international meets. In other words, we have all along given venue support to such international events. As to the mega activities quoted by Mr. WONG just now, they were basically held on venues managed by the Urban Council. Again, this proves that both the Department and the Council support similar activities.
The motion starts with ...... Fully utilise Council's venues compete......'
Actively
To my mind, the council responsible for tourism and the Sports Development Board should take the initiative in actively competing to stage activities. This Council will join in only when there is a need.
Whether Hong Kong can stage activities like the Olympics or the Asian Games is not basically something that the Department or the Council can do on its own. The question does not lie in whether the Urban Council is willing to provide assistance. We are already giving assistance and support. The question is that there are no mega activities for us to support.
As such, I support the motion in principle. But then as I think deeper, I feel other organisations should study even deeper into the matter. They should form a joint committee to practically implement the motion. Mr. Chairman, I register support for the motion.
Mr. Joseph Lai Chi-keong (in Cantonese):—I welcome Mr. Ronnie WONG's motion. In fact, when I was small, I heard that Hong Kong was called a football kingdom. The Hong Kong football king Mr. LEE Wai-tong was the idol of everyone and another football player Mr. Ho Cheung-yau was presented an honour from the Queen for his gentlemanly style on the pitch. In other words, the small city of Hong Kong was famed all over the world in sports. From a historical angle, there is no reason for us to deviate from that development. We should give full play to our favourable edge.
Geographically, we know that Hong Kong is in the centre of South East Asia. Air traffic to Korea, Japan, Taiwan or even South East Asia is prosperous. As another member has pointed out, hotels and transport facilities in Hong Kong are good. So both from the geographic and historical angles, Hong Kong is a suitable place for sports meets. One other thing is that football fans in Hong Kong are gentle. They will never behave like fans in Britain. In other words, from political, religious to racial angles, we have always adopted the attitude of neutral and open toleration. There was never one social incident resulted from riots of football fans. Our amicable conditions should be appreciated by others, so it will be very appropriate to hold mega international competitions here. I hope both the Department and the Council can work together with other organisations to strive for hosting major events. If we cannot host the Asian Games, the Olympics or the World Cup Football, we
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