In recent years, the Hong Kong SAR government has been actively promoting the "mega event economy", driving the tourism, hotel, retail, and catering industries by organizing large-scale international activities to support economic growth.
Pui Kwan-kay, President of the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' & Exporters' Association (HKCIEA) and Honorary Vice Chairman of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, said in an interview with Wen Wei Po that several successfully organized international matches last year had effectively sparked a sports craze.
Pui is highly active in the sports circle. He recalled that his connection with sports began with fitness training, "I was physically weak when I was young. When playing basketball, I would often fall upon the slightest contact with taller opponents. So, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, I joined the Citizens' Athletic Association and started systematic fitness training. Within just two or three years, my physique improved significantly."
Pui is also an ardent football fan with a deep affection for the sport. When Hong Kong football was in a downturn, the Happy Valley Athletic Association, of which he was a part, successfully gained promotion to the top-tier league and remained there for a decade. During this period, he invested over ten million dollars to support the team.
Discussing potential sports for future development, Pui believes that the marathon has a solid foundation in Hong Kong, attracting numerous overseas runners annually, and holds significant growth potential. He also opines that the "mega event economy" should not be confined to football but could extend to other sports, such as basketball.
However, the biggest constraint lies in the standards of the venues. In the past, facilities like the Hong Kong Coliseum and Southorn Stadium did not meet the requirements for official NBA games; NBA pre-season games were often held in cities like Shanghai and Beijing.
Pui once watched an NBA game in Shanghai; although the tickets were expensive, they were immensely popular, significantly boosting the local economy. He hopes Hong Kong can seize similar opportunities to promote the synergistic development of sports and the economy, mentioning that with the completion of the Kai Tak Sports Park, relevant conditions have greatly improved, creating an opportunity to attract top-tier international sporting events.
"Hong Kong actually has a similar experience. For example, the Yao Foundation once held a charity match in Hong Kong, inviting overseas stars and a mainland celebrity team to play. As a fundraising event, the response was still enthusiastic, with tickets selling out. In the future, if the venue facilities can meet international standards, coupled with the support of urban economic policies, I believe it is entirely possible to attract NBA teams to come to Hong Kong."
Regarding the SAR government's promotion of the "mega event economy" to attract major sporting events, concerts, exhibitions, and international conferences to Hong Kong, Pui expressed his agreement. He pointed out that since the opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park, several notable events have been successfully held, including matches of the Hong Kong football representative team and pre-season friendlies involving English Premier League teams, attracting a large number of fans, many of whom travelled specifically from the Chinese mainland, bringing positive effects to the local economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, he hopes Hong Kong can continue to secure visits from more world-class football teams to maintain the momentum, while also striving to improve the performance of the Hong Kong representative team. According to government announcements, it is projected that over 90 major cultural, sports, and tourism events will be held in 2026, encompassing the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, the LIV Golf Hong Kong tournament, Art Basel, and the Hong Kong Sevens.
In recent years, the SAR government has been determined to explore and promote the professionalization and industrialization of sports. The "fitness economy" elevates sports development from mere recreational activities to the level of an economic industry. Pui noted that, as citizens' living standards continue to rise, there is a growing focus on maintaining a healthy physique. Consequently, the profession of fitness instructors and the fitness industry (such as fitness centres) possess excellent prospects for development.
Besides serving as the President of the HKCIEA, Pui also holds positions in the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), and the Hong Kong China Bodybuilding & Fitness Association (HKCBBA). As a veteran figure in the sports sector, he mentioned that in his decades as President of the HKCBBA, he has organized numerous competitions annually to promote the sport. It is within this positive atmosphere that Hong Kong's female bodybuilders have excelled, winning gold medals at world championships and securing accolades in continental competitions.
He further mentioned that being a fitness instructor is a career path with significant prospects. As people's living standards improve, more and more citizens seek guidance from personal trainers to achieve a healthy physique. Concurrently, the hardware facilities and service levels of current fitness centres are continuously improving, pointing towards even greater room for future development and an optimistic outlook.
(Source: Wen Wei Po; Journalist: Ivy Chong)
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