HK and Inter Miami in talks to organise more activities during Messi's stay

The Hong Kong government is in talks with the US soccer club Inter Miami regarding football star Lionel Messi's visit to Hong Kong this week, to arrange additional activities for him and his teammates to promote Hong Kong.

This comes after tickets for the Lionel Messi match in Hong Kong sold out in 1 hour. The match between Inter Miami team and Hong Kong team will take place at the Hong Kong Stadium on 4 February and has generated buzz across social platforms in Hong Kong. 

Speaking on a radio programme yesterday (28 January), secretary for culture, sports and tourism Kevin Yeung said the authorities are looking into the possibility of inviting the club to visit various places in Hong Kong and organising other activities to indirectly promote Hong Kong. However, the final decision will depend on the team and the footballers themselves.

Yeung added that the government's approach to organising events this year was not solely focused on the sporting aspect but also considered how to attract global attention and promote tourism to Hong Kong. This includes incorporating cultural activities as a means of publicity.

Yeung also said that Hong Kong will host over 80 major events in the first half of this year, including festive celebrations and large-scale industry projects, aiming to provide opportunities for HongKongers to engage in diverse events. 

He also highlighted that Hong Kong had a record-high 17 “M” mark events scheduled for the 2023/24 fiscal year, which would contribute to the development of sports in Hong Kong and stimulate the local economy. Hosting these events not only attracts tourists, creates job opportunities, and boosts the economy but also showcases Hong Kong's capability to organise large-scale competitions to the world, he added. 

Separately, Hong Kong’s finance chief Paul Chan said on his blog that, the authorities would strengthen internal coordination and establish more effective mechanisms to ensure the smooth and successful execution of these events. 

“The deputy financial secretary will assume the role of the chief coordinator of the interdepartmental coordination group, which will consist of representatives from relevant policy bureaus, departments and statutory bodies,” Chan said. 

He added that appropriate barriers and restrictions would be loosened at different stages to maximise the economic and social benefits of these events.

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Recently, lawmaker Regina Ip said some concert organisers have no plans to come to Hong Kong as they think Hong Kong lacks major venues. She questioned whether the government would proactively liaise with the industry and relevant stakeholders to jointly formulate plans on promoting the use of the Kai Tak Sports Park as a major performance venue. 

In response, Yeung said in a written reply that Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSPL) is required to organise sports events on a certain number of days every year according to the conditions of the contract and operating requirements. As for the remaining calendar of the year, the venues can be used to host different large-scale events such as concerts to cater to the needs of different sectors. 

Photo courtesy: Miami CF's official website

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