Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung today inspected the progress of construction works at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) and reviewed preparatory work for a test event due to be held there on Sunday.

Around 1,000 invited spectators will attend the event, a football match between local teams at the Public Sports that will be the KTSP's first test event.

As the Public Sports Ground is near Sung Wong Toi MTR Station, it is expected that the majority of the spectators will make use of railway services to access the venue. The MTR Corporation has made preparations for increased passenger traffic at that station, and at Kai Tak Station.

Mr Yeung urged the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (KTSPL) to ensure smooth arrangements for the test event to give visitors a good experience of the new sports ground, adding that the event marks a milestone in the progress towards the park's official commissioning.

"The Government and KTSPL will organise multiple test events and drills," he said. "With the concerted efforts of different bureaus and departments, we are confident the test events and drills will enable us to accumulate invaluable experience for better preparation of the full commissioning of the KTSP."

As outlined in the 2024 Policy Address last week, the KTSP's major facilities will be completed by the end of this year. Being the largest sports infrastructure project ever commissioned in Hong Kong, the park will open in the first quarter of 2025, boosting sports development and injecting impetus into related industries and the Government's drive to develop a mega-event economy.

To ensure smooth operations once it is commissioned, the KTSP will organise a series of test events and drills between now and the first quarter of next year. The events will dovetail with the completion and state of readiness of facilities at the park's respective venues.

The number of participants at the test events and drills will increase incrementally, from 1,000 on Sunday to around 50,000 participants ultimately. Around 150,000 to 200,000 people will participate in the various events and drills prior to the park's official commissioning.

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(C) 2024 M2 COMMUNICATIONS, source M2 PressWIRE