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Mega Events to boost visitor numbers
The six projects selected in the first round of applications for the Mega Events Fund are as follows:
Swire “Symphony Under the Stars”
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a mega outdoor classical concert on November 13, 2009, at Happy Valley Racecourse to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The organizer intends to break the Guinness World Record by arranging 5,000 participants to play harmonicas to a pre-selected tune.
Hong Kong Tennis Classic 2010 “World Team Challenge”
The Hong Kong Tennis Patrons’Association will organize an international tennis tournament from January 6 to 9, 2010, at Victoria Park. Four international teams with world-class tennis stars from Europe, Russia, the Americas and the Asia Pacific will compete for the championship in 16 matches.
Mui Wo Lantern Festival
The Hung Shing Festival Preparatory Committee will hold a large-scale cultural festival from March 26 to 29, 2010, in Mui Wo. The festival will include a series of Chinese traditional and customary activities, such as launching of sky lanterns, dragon and lion dances, a food carnival and a giant basin feast.
2010 International a cappella Festival
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups will organize an international creative performing arts festival from March to April 2010 at various locations in Hong Kong, with participation of more than 70 renowned a cappella groups from all over the world.
Hong Kong Musical Festival
The Springtime Experimental Theatre, Perry Chiu Experimental Theatre, Ah Lo Productions and Chung Ying Theatre Company will jointly hold a large-scale musical festival from March to April 2010. There will be a total of 45 performances of four musicals.
Louis Vuitton Hong Kong Trophy
The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club will organize a world-class sailing competition from October to December 2010 in Victoria Harbour. In this event, the world's fastest racing yachts and top sailors will be brought to Hong Kong and spectators will be able to watch the match on both sides of the harbor. Other side events will also be held. |
The Mega Events Fund (MEF) Assessment Committee has decided to support six proposals for mega arts, cultural and sports events to be held in Hong Kong. A total of US$3.23 million will be granted from the MEF to support these events.
Announcing the selection results on October 22, the Chairman of the MEF Assessment Committee Jeffrey Lam said all the projects selected will add color and vibrancy to the city and help attract more visitors to Hong Kong.
“These mega events will enrich the travel experience of visitors, raise Hong Kong’s profile internationally, showcase Hong Kong’s capability to host world-class events and reinforce our position as the events capital of Asia, ”Mr. Lam said.
“The events will also help generate economic benefits to Hong Kong by boosting consumption and creating job opportunities in various sectors, and promote development in the arts, cultural and sports sectors,” added Mr. Lam. “It is expected that the six events will attract over 140,000 participants, both locals and tourists.”
Mr. Lam said all 19 applications received in the first round in July were meticulously scrutinized by the committee in accordance with a marking program that takes into account a number of factors such as the economic, publicity and other benefits of the events; the scale of the events; the capability and track record of the applicants; the technical feasibility of the proposals; and the reasonableness of the budget. He expressed gratitude to all members of the assessment committee for their hard work.
Mr. Lam also announced that second-round applications for the MEF will open on November 1, and close at noon on November 30. Application details, including application form, guide to application and some frequently asked questions, will be available on the MEF’s dedicated Web site, on October 31.
The US$12.82 million MEF was established in May 2009 to implement the Financial Secretary’s 2009-10 budget initiative to assist local non-profit-making organizations to host more attractive arts, cultural and sports events over the next three years to further reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the events capital of Asia.
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