The Hong Kong government's "plans to scrap Wan Chai Sports Ground, the home of Hong Kong track and field, have been greeted with deep disappointment by athletics officials," according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Built in '79 when the Wan Chai reclamation area was still an "unpopular location," the facility was the first int'l-standard sports venue in the area and "has witnessed generations of athletes perform, breaking many Hong Kong records," including Tsui Chi-ho's men's 100m and Tang Yik-chun's 200m marks. In his final policy address on Wednesday, Chief Exec of Hong Kong Leung Chun-ying proposed "comprehensive redevelopment of the site" in '19 "at the earliest" as an extension of the adjacent Convention & Exhibition Centre. Apart from convention and exhibition venues, the development proposal would comprise "stylish and novel recreation and sports facilities" as well as "other necessary community facilities for the district, with a view to optimising land use," but the athletics track will be removed. Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association Senior Vice-Chair Simon Yeung Sai-mo said, "We were never consulted about the plan and this is very disappointing." Secretary for Home Affairs Lau Kong-wah said that "they also had plans to renovate the Hong Kong Stadium by adding a running track upon completion of the Kai Tak Sports Park," which is estimated to be in '22 "at the earliest" (SCMP, 1/19).