Editorial | Hong Kong’s reputation rests on Kai Tak stadium meeting its deadline
Smooth opening of sports park for Sevens and Coldplay concert will raise city’s game as host of international events
It is just a matter of months before the next Hong Kong Sevens brings together thousands of rugby fans from far and wide to enjoy three days of world-class competition. In any given year, there would be little cause for concern about preparations for the event. But this is not just any year. The 2025 Sevens are due to take place at a new stadium in Kai Tak.
It is imperative that the venue is ready to handle the crowds from rugby and other events. With the clock ticking down, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has called for the stadium, the first major venue to be built in the city for decades, to open on schedule.
Lee is right to press for deadlines to be met. The Sevens have been held at the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium in So Kon Po for more than 40 years. Next year, they will be held across Victoria Harbour at Kai Tak Sports Park from March 28-30. The HK$30 billion project, including a 50,000-seat stadium, will also be the main venue for the National Games, to be hosted by Hong Kong and its Greater Bay Area neighbours next year.
The stadium was largely complete when Lee visited with members of an interdepartmental task force late last month. Lee said he “demanded” the task force ensure the sports park would open on time and urged any operational challenges be met through drills and a soft opening in the first quarter. Exercises are being held to ensure crowds disperse smoothly and public transport is adequate.
Drills are one thing, what actually occurs is quite another. The city is counting on Kai Tak to provide economic benefits as a hub for leading sports, entertainment and other mega events that will attract visitors from around the world. British band Coldplay are among the first acts set to play there early next year.
A relatively undeveloped Kai Tak area will have its challenges on the social side unlike Hong Kong Stadium, where thousands of fans could pour into Causeway Bay or Wan Chai to enjoy the nearby restaurants, bars and nightlife, or take public transport elsewhere.
