Stop the delays over proposed new stadium at Kai Tak, say Hong Kong sporting stars

Hong Kong's sports community has demanded no more delays over the proposed Kai Tak Multi-Purpose Sports Complex after another fruitless meeting.

At the Legislative Council's public works subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, no decision was made on the government's request for HK$62.7 million for pre-construction work. After two hours' deliberation, the meeting was adjourned until May 6 - the third time the panel has discussed the matter.

The money was requested for a technical services consultancy for preparing specifications and conceptual drawing for the main work, a quantity surveying consultancy, ground investigation, utility mapping and topographic and tree surveys.

But panel members preferred to focus on a long-term sports policy for Hong Kong, whether the proposed 50,000-seater main stadium was suitable, why not use the land instead for public housing or whether the complex would become a white elephant beside Victoria Harbour.

Former badminton international Amy Chan Lim-chee, said the sports community could wait no longer.

"It's now a critical moment as we can't wait any more," said Chan, who is a member of the Sports Commission.