Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu met on Tuesday with State Councilor Shen Yiqin and her delegation, who are in Hong Kong to inspect the facilities and events of the 15th National Games.
Lee expressed his gratitude to Shen and the General Administration of Sport of China for their advice and guidance on the preparation work for the National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games.
Shen will report on Hong Kong's preparatory work for the games and the enhancement of sports cooperation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
Director of the General Administration of Sport of China Gao Zhidan, as part of the delegation, attended the meeting while Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui; and Head of the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) Yeung Tak-keung were also present.
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Lee said the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are jointly hosting the games, marking the first time that Hong Kong has participated as a host city in the country's largest-scale multisport event since its return to the motherland.
This reflects the country's trust in Hong Kong and support for the collaborative development of the GBA, which is of great significance, Lee said.
The chief executive said that Hong Kong made comprehensive preparations for the games, with the eight competition events hosted by the city running smoothly.
The participating teams demonstrated excellent sportsmanship and skills while audiences have been fully engaged in cheering for the athletes, Lee said.
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Lee noted that the HKSAR government has been actively promoting sports development through the five policy objectives of promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, maintaining Hong Kong as a center for major international sports events, enhancing professionalism, and developing sports as an industry.
Hong Kong will maintain close cooperation with the GASC to further promote the joint development of the sports industry in the GBA and attract more major events to Hong Kong and the GBA, building a world-class bay area and contributing to the country's efforts to become a sporting powerhouse, Lee added.
