The Hong Kong sports community is "hoping the long-awaited Kai Tak multi-purpose sports complex takes a major step forward on Wednesday" when the government seeks funding of HK$62.7M ($8M) at the Legislative Council to carry out pre-construction work, according to Chan Kin-wa of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. The meeting of the council's Public Work Subcommittee will decide "whether or not to approve initial funding to start the project," estimated to cost HK$25B ($3.23B). Hong Kong Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Jonathan McKinley said, "If we cannot get PWSC approval this time around, given the number of other works items in the queue for discussion by the subcommittee, it is unlikely we would get another chance before November." The sports community is "most eager to see it happen as it has been waiting for years." Hong Kong Sports Commission member Tony Choi Yuk-kwan said, "Hong Kong is an international world city and it's a shame there has been no world-class sporting facility to live up to its name. ... We know many of our regional counterparts are building or have
completed large-scale sporting facilities and Hong Kong faces a lot of
disadvantages when bidding for major events because of a lack of venue
support." Hong Kong FA Chair Brian Leung Hung-tak expressed the "strongest desire to have the new stadium in place, especially after the fiasco at last summer's Barclays Asia Trophy" and the friendly against ManU at Hong Kong Stadium, when the pitch "deteriorated badly." He said, "We can't invite quality teams to Hong Kong without good facilities. The quicker we can have the venue, the more we can do in bringing top teams to Hong Kong." The complex will feature three "major sporting facilities" -- a 50,000-seat multi-purpose main stadium with a retractable roof, a multi-purpose ground for 5,000 spectators suitable for football, rugby and athletics training and competitions "and an indoor arena with 4,000 seating for sports such as basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, judo, karate and wushu" (SCMP, 4/21).
