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The following is issued on behalf of the Major Sports Events Committee:
The Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) has awarded "M" Mark status to the Longines Hong Kong Masters 2013, which is to be held from February 28 to March 2.
The Chairman of the MSEC, Mr William Ko, said today (February 25) that the event, like all "M" Mark events, will add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong and help attract more visitors.
"'M' Mark events showcase Hong Kong's capability to host world-class events and reinforce its position as the events capital of Asia," Mr Ko said.
"'M' Mark events also help generate economic benefits for Hong Kong by attracting tourists. They also instil a sustainable sporting culture in the community, and help foster a sense of pride and social cohesion," he added.
The "M" Mark System has been in operation since 2004 to help local national sports associations organise more major sports events and nurture them into sustainable undertakings. Sports events meeting the assessment criteria, in terms of economic benefits, the impact on sports development and the good track record of the organisers, will be granted the "M" Mark status by the MSEC. Funding support will also be provided to some of the event organisers.
The number of recognised "M" Mark events has increased from four in 2005 to 11 in 2012. So far, a total of $55.03 million has been approved to support recognised "M" Mark events.
For details regarding application for "M" Mark status, please visit the "M" Mark events website at www.mevents.org.hk.
Ends/Monday, February 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:31
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