Session No. 5 File name : cedb(cit)- doc
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- Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2010-11
Question: Regarding the plan for Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre Phase 3, please provide the following information: (a) the expected completion date of the plan; (b) the expected commencement date of works; and (c) the additional manpower requirement for the works and the expenditure involved. Asked by: Hon. IP Wai-ming Reply: On Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s proposal for a Phase 3 development of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre at a nearby site, the Government is still examining the relevant issues (including its location, design, related planning issues as well as its impacts on the traffic, environment and other public facilities in the vicinity). The Government has not made any decision on the proposal. We will conduct a public consultation at an appropriate time when there is a concrete proposal.
Question : Regarding the Mega Events Fund, please provide the following information: (a) How many large-scale arts, culture and sports events staged in Hong Kong have been supported by the Fund since its establishment? Have any studies been carried out on the economic benefits of such events for Hong Kong? If yes, please give the details. If not, will consideration be given to allocating more resources for relevant studies in the following year? (b) What are the funding criteria? Is there any ceiling set on the financial support for each event? (c) What is the estimated number of events receiving support under the Fund in 2010-11? What is the expenditure involved? What are the expected economic benefits? Asked by : Hon. IP Wai-ming Reply : (a) The Mega Events Fund (MEF) was established in May 2009 following funding approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council. Since then, a maximum sum of $27.2 million has been approved to support seven mega arts, cultural and sports events to be held in Hong Kong. All these events are expected to attract over 200 000 participants, including over 31 000 visitors, as well as create over 2 400 jobs. Mega events can add colour and vibrancy to Hong Kong, attract more visitors, stimulate spending, create employment, raise Hong Kong’s international profile and promote Hong Kong as “Events Capital of Asia”. To evaluate the economic benefits of mega events, the MEF Assessment Committee has already consulted the Government Economist and the Hong Kong Tourism Board while scrutinising the applications. After completion of the events, we will also analyse the data collected from organisers and other parties in order to assess the economic benefits brought by mega events to Hong Kong. (b) MEF has a strict and open assessment mechanism. Firstly, applications must fulfil certain basic criteria. For instance, the proposed project must be an arts, cultural or sports event; the organisers must be local non-profit organisations; and the number of participants in the proposed event must reach at least 10 000. Other assessment criteria include economic benefits (such as the number of visitors and overseas participants to be attracted; and the number of jobs to be created), other benefits (such as the extent of raising Hong Kong’s international profile and attracting media coverage), scale of the event, as well as technical and financial feasibility etc. The funding amount for each event supported by MEF varies. The Assessment Committee will consider a number of factors such as the event content, scale, duration, venue requirement, budget, other funding sources (such as commercial sponsorship and ticket income) as well as the capability of the organiser before making a recommendation to the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), who will then determine the upper limit of funding for each selected application. To attract mega events to be staged in Hong Kong, there is no funding ceiling for each selected project except that the funding amount cannot exceed 50% of the project’s actual total cost. (c) The number of mega events to be supported by MEF in 2010-11 as well as their funding amount will depend on the number of applications received and how many of them can successfully pass the assessment procedure. Amongst the seven events supported by MEF, four will be held in 2010-11, which are expected to attract over 130 000 participants, including over 18 800 visitors, and create over 860 jobs.
Directory: citb -> doc doc -> Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-13 Director of Bureau : Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Session No. 12 File name : cedb(cit)- doc Download 4.7 Mb. Share with your friends:
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