Hong Kong Sevens: John Lee pledges more world events following sports tournament as top adviser hints at further easing of Covid measures
- Lee also lauds recent high-level banking summit as success, adding it shows city has ‘returned to the centre of the world stage’
- Regina Ip says if no surge in infections from tournament then city can relax remaining pandemic curbs
Hong Kong will hold more international events following the Rugby Sevens tournament, the city leader has pledged, while one of his top advisers has suggested Covid-19 pandemic curbs may be further eased if infections do not spike after the weekend of festivities.
Speaking at a forum on Friday, John Lee Ka-chiu lauded a recent high-level banking summit as a success, saying it showed the city had “returned to the centre of the world stage”, while noting the Hong Kong Sevens was being held for the first time in three years.
“I am confident Hong Kong can organise yet another great world event,” he said. “Under permissible circumstances, the government could come up with targeted proposals to ensure Hong Kong’s mega events and its economy can run smoothly.”
The city was becoming more “vibrant” as social-distancing curbs were gradually relaxed, he added.
The rugby tournament, which runs Friday to Sunday, has been billed as a major event marking the reopening of Hong Kong, alongside FinTech week and the recently concluded Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit.
The city has been slowly easing its pandemic control measures over the past few months, but public gatherings of more than 12 people remain banned, while the movement of inbound travellers is restricted during the three days of their arrival.
At the stadium in Causeway Bay, a group of fans who had flown from South Africa told the Post they were caught off guard by the three-day rule. They would only be able to watch the matches in person on the final day, they said.
