An Australian player (in orange) vies for possession against Samoa on April 2, 2023, the last day of the Hong Kong Sevens 2023 rugby tournament. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is pulling out all the stops to attract mega events, including sports, art and cultural, finance and business activities, as part of its efforts to revive local economy and boost its international image.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun said on Friday that the HKSAR government will take a proactive approach to draw more mega events into Hong Kong.

A cross-government departmental working group focused on coordinating large-scale events will be established, with Wong serving as the head and Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung as his deputy. 

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The group will work to provide financial resources and offer support to the events, such as licensing, crowd control and traffic management.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board will utilize its existing networks on the Chinese mainland and overseas … to globally source suitable major events.

Michael Wong Wai-lun, Deputy Financial Secretary, HKSAR

The mega events, which are expected to bring in substantial revenue to the retail, hospitality, food and beverage sectors, will not only contribute to economic growth but also enable visitors “to truly experience Hong Kong’s vibrancy, helping to enhance the city’s status as an international hub”, Wong said at a press conference.

“The Hong Kong Tourism Board will utilize its existing networks on the Chinese mainland and overseas … to globally source suitable major events,” the official said. 

“It will actively engage with event organizers or intermediaries to explore the possibility of introducing major events into Hong Kong together with the necessary support, and work to add value to events that have been held in Hong Kong by incorporating complementary activities featuring local characteristics, such as gastronomy, shopping and theme travel.”

In addition, the government will promote an atmosphere of city-wide engagement by launching a magazine-style program on both social media platforms and websites through Radio Television Hong Kong by the end of next month. The program is expected to provide daily updates on the city’s major events.

In the first half of this year, there will be over 80 mega events in Hong Kong, covering culture, arts, sports, economy, trade, and finance. The Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund, established by the HKSAR government last year, has so far approved 15 projects, with six currently underway. As for the Major Sports Events Committee, it set a record last year by supporting 17 major international sports events.

Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, chairman of the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Committee, introduced three highlights of the cultural and arts events in the coming months at the press conference. 

At the top of the agenda is the art installation Chubby Heart, a 12-meter red heart that is expected to float above Central; various other pop-up red heart installations will be staged in different locations. Coordinated by the Hong Kong Design Centre and British fashion designer Anya Hindmarch, the installation will be on display from Valentine’s Day until the Lantern Festival. 

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Cheng said the event is forecast attract more than 100,000 visitors.

Between March 15 and July 2, an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese literary legend Louis Cha, better known by his pen name Jin Yong, will showcase characters from his martial arts novels, Cheng said. It is anticipated to draw in over 400,000 visitors.

Meanwhile, international pop culture festival, ComplexCon, is set to debut in Hong Kong from March 22 to 24, with an estimated 30,000 fans attending.

Contact the writer at tianyuanzhang@chinadailyhk.com