Hong Kong FA Chair Brian Leung Hung-tak said that the new HK$30M ($3.8M) pitch at Hong Kong Stadium will "guarantee no repeat of the disaster of the last Premier League Asia Trophy when the popular event returns this summer." Leung ruled out a second venue when Liverpool, Leicester City, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion feature in the two-day event on July 19 and 22. He said, "It’s only the Hong Kong Stadium and that’s it for the two match days" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 5/31).
Sports execs "talked up the prospects of hosting international events such as the Asian Games and Youth Olympics after plans to build the proposed Kai Tak sports park passed a major hurdle on Wednesday." Construction of the HK$31.9B ($4B) project at the former airport site "received a big boost after getting the approval of the Public Works Subcommittee under the Legislative Council despite a razor-thin margin of 18-17 majority." But the "most difficult task is yet to come as the government needs to seek the final approval of the Finance Committee to foot the construction bills" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 5/31).
