Carrie Lam policy address: Local sports will thrive in Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau shift, says Olympic Committee president Timothy Fok
- Chief executive Carrie Lam lays out ‘reorganisation’ of local sports and culture, previously overseen by Home Affairs Bureau
- ‘We know the bureau will be very big, but in the long run, these three intertwine’, says Timothy Fok
Hong Kong’s sports and cultural sector has hailed the proposed creation of a new bureau, voicing hope it will boost the city’s global reputation in such areas.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor unveiled a “reorganisation” of the cultural and creative industries in her policy address on Wednesday, with sports set to be a visible pillar in its own right, under a new Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau proposed for the next administration.
The move is a welcome one for Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, Hong Kong Olympic Committee president, Hong Kong Football Association president and former Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency representative.
“There will be dedicated people representing the sports community – everyone knows that [developing] sports culture is a part of Hong Kong’s future,” Fok said, justifying its grouping with tourism. “You see a lot of these National Sports Associations (NSA) and events like the Rugby Sevens are very international and tourism-related. Everyone is invested in sports and cultural facilities, so I hope it pushes Hong Kong more towards the international setting.”
