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Following is a question by Hon Kenneth Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, in the Legislative Council today (November 11):
Question:
Hong Kong's home match against China in the second round of the Asian region matches for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification will be staged on the 17th of this month. Earlier on, quite a number of football fans have expressed their hope that the match be held in the Hong Kong Stadium (HKS), which can accommodate more spectators, so that more football fans can cheer for the Hong Kong team at its home stadium. However, as the Olympic Rugby Sevens Qualifier Tournament had been scheduled to be staged at HKS on the 7th and the 8th of this month, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) anticipated that considerable damage would be caused to the turf of HKS after around 50 rugby matches and as a result, the turf could not be restored in time for staging that football match. Eventually, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) decides to stage the football match in the Mong Kok Stadium. In connection with the venue arrangement for the football match, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as a number of home matches of the Hong Kong Football Representative Team held in the past few years drew full houses, whether the authorities have considered according priority to the aforesaid football match to use HKS; if they have considered, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(2) when LCSD came to know the date for staging the football match; whether LCSD received HKFA's application for hiring HKS to stage the match; if LCSD did, when HKFA submitted the application and when LCSD received HKFA's application for staging the match in the Mong Kok Stadium;
(3) of the justifications for LCSD making the statement that the turf of HKS could not be restored in time; whether LCSD will make public the relevant papers and information, including the report prepared by turf experts; if LCSD will not, of the reasons for that;
(4) of the details concerning the discussions and decisions made by LCSD and HKFA regarding the venue for staging the football match, including the dates of the relevant meetings and the justifications for the decisions made; whether LCSD will make public the relevant papers and information; if LCSD will not, of the reasons for that; and
(5) whether, after the re-turfing work of the turf of HKS was completed in April this year, LCSD has adopted new measures for maintaining and managing the turf so as to enable more international football matches to be staged in HKS; if LCSD has, of the details of the new measures; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The reply to the question raised by Hon Kenneth Chan is as follows:
(1) The Hong Kong Stadium (HKS) is a multi-purpose sports and recreation venue that can stage football matches, rugby sevens matches and other major events. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) follows the established procedures in approving the booking applications for using HKS taking into account factors such as the nature of event, turf conditions and the scheduled turf maintenance programme.
(2) and (3) The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) informed LCSD in September 2014 of its intention to bid for hosting the Asia Rugby Sevens Qualifier (ARSQ) which was scheduled for November 2015. The HKRU submitted a booking application in December 2014 for using HKS to stage the event. As no competing bookings were received at that time, LCSD accepted the application by the HKRU in early December 2014 and reserved HKS for ARSQ scheduled for November 7 to 8, 2015.
The Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) applied to LCSD in January 2015 for hiring HKS to stage events including international matches scheduled for the period from October 30 to November 18, 2015. The booking period of HKFA and the Asia Rugby Sevens qualifier matches are within days of each other. Given that damage would be caused to the turf after the vigorous rugby matches and that appropriate maintenance works need to be carried out in a timely manner to recover the pitch, LCSD replied to HKFA in March 2015 that its booking could not be accepted as the venue would be used by other applicants for staging major international sports events in early November.
Following the draw for the World Cup qualifier and confirmation of schedule for the matches, HKFA made a formal request to LCSD in mid-April 2015 for staging the World Cup qualifier match - Hong Kong vs China at HKS on November 17, 2015. Considering the interest of football fans in the match and HKFA's anticipation for the match venue, LCSD has maintained communication with HKFA regarding the venue for the event. HKFA was notified that a decision on whether the match could take place at HKS would only be made after the completion of the reconstruction works and a close observation of the growth of the new turf.
As regards the Hong Kong Stadium Turf Pitch Reconstruction Project, works commenced in April 2015 and regular reports were submitted to the Expert Group on the Hong Kong Stadium Turf Pitch under LCSD. The re-turfing works completed at the end of July. However, the growth of the new turf was far slower than expected because of the extremely hot weather in August. The temperature of the sand-based soil was persistently high, sometimes over 35 degrees Celsius, which was outside the tolerable range of immature turf. The growth rate of the new turf was far slower than expected and the turf coverage was not dense enough in August and September. In view of this, the re-opening of the stadium has been postponed from October to November 2015 to allow more time for better establishment and stabilisation of the turf, so that a deeper root system and better turf coverage can be achieved to prepare the pitch for ARSQ scheduled for November 7 and 8.
LCSD expected that there would be considerable damage to the new turf after some 50 rugby matches. Having estimated the growth condition of the turf and in consultation with turf experts, LCSD considered that about four weeks should be allowed for regular turf recovery in accordance with established practice after ARSQ. After assessment of the latest situation by turf experts at the end of September, LCSD confirmed that HKS pitch could not be restored to a satisfactory state in time for high-level football match to take place after the ARSQ. LCSD formally notified HKFA on October 8 and suggested it to consider using other LCSD venues. Eventually, HKFA decided to hold the match at Mong Kok Stadium. The damage of HKS pitch turned out to be more serious than expected after ARSQ. The main reason was that the persistent high temperature during the establishment of the new turf in August and September inhibited the growth of the root system of the new turf. As a result, the shallow root system could not withstand the damage caused by rigorous rugby players and the turf was displaced.
(4) LCSD has liaised with HKFA, and provided a suitable venue for staging the World Cup qualifier taking into account the practical circumstances as specified in parts (2) and (3) above. It would be inappropriate for LCSD to disclose the details of booking applications which contain information of individual organisations.
(5) LCSD established a Sports Turf Management Section in May 2014 to strengthen the turf management of natural turf pitches. It provides professional advice and technical support for the natural turf pitches managed by LCSD, in particular HKS and other pitches designated for the Hong Kong Premier League. The Section is also tasked with facilitating the sharing and transfer of knowledge and experience, as well as strengthening the training of staff. It closely participates in and supports the Hong Kong Stadium Turf Pitch Reconstruction Project with a view to offering comprehensive and proper professional advice and technical support for the Stadium in the future. In addition, LCSD has taken the following measures to further improve the management of the Hong Kong Stadium turf pitch:
- In the course of the Reconstruction Project, LCSD has arranged the staff responsible for turf maintenance to join the training provided by expert consultant to enhance their knowledge in specific areas. After the Project is completed, the Stadium staff would follow the professional procedures and guidelines advised by the expert consultants in carrying out routine turf maintenance work to upkeep the turf quality.
- LCSD has made advanced technology and ancillary facilities available to HKS, such as growth lights and ventilating fans for turf, and employed more ground workers for the maintenance work.
- As to the scheduling of activities and events, LCSD will discuss with hirers of HKS the scheduling and frequency of activities as well as the conditions of use of the venue with a view to striking a better balance between maintaining the turf quality and meeting user demand. The aim is to avoid causing excessive damage to the turf or compromising the turf maintenance work.
We believe that with the reconstruction of the entire turf pitch and the adoption of an enhanced turf maintenance programme and a stricter approach to scheduling events and activities, the turf quality of HKS can be constantly maintained at a high level.
Ends/Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:55
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