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Opinion
Hong Kong can deliver on mega events but government must step up
- The hiccups at some recent events, from the Wan Chai bazaar to the world rallycross race, are the result of a lack of coordination. A transformation of the government’s role is desperately needed
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The FIA World Rallycross Championship last November reminded us that tight event schedules are an organiser’s nightmare. Given the impossible mission to build the street circuit within two weeks, when it usually took longer in other cities, the organiser faced construction delays that meant the planned 1.225km track could not be completed in time and had to be shortened.
Before that, with less than a month to organise the Wan Chai “waterfront carnival” of the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign, the organiser faced initial power supply glitches that left some vendors at the bazaar struggling to serve hot dishes and others unable to accept electronic payments.
Why do we seem to be clumsily fighting short deadlines when organising major events? Granted, internationally acclaimed events and celebrities have difficult schedules but event organisers around the world still manage to pull it off. The reason for Hong Kong’s difficulties is a lack of coordination.
Organising a public event in Hong Kong is a laborious effort. Organisers must apply for a long list of temporary licences from various government departments and each licence can take weeks of back and forth. Equally difficult is securing a suitable venue. Major arenas like the Hong Kong Coliseum have to be booked a year in advance due to their popularity.
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