Hong Kong Committee OKs Mega Events

Hong Kong’s Mega Events Fund (MEF) Assessment Committee has decided to support six proposals for mega arts, cultural and sports events to be held in Hong Kong. A total of HK$25.2 million ($3.23 million) will be granted from the MEF to support these events.

The Chairman of the MEF Assessment Committee Jeffrey Lam Kin-Fung said all the projects selected will add color and vibrancy to the city and help attract more visitors to Hong Kong.

Lam said all 19 applications received in the first round in July were meticulously scrutinized by the committee in accordance with a marking scheme which takes into account a number of factors such as the economic, publicity and other benefits of the events; the scale of the events; the capability and track record of the applicants; the technical feasibility of the proposals; and the reasonableness of the budget.

Lam also announced that second-round applications for the MEF opens on Nov. 1 and close at noon on Nov. 30. The $12.82 million MEF was established in May this year to implement the Financial Secretary’s 2009-10 budget initiative to assist local non-profit-making organizations to host more attractive arts, cultural and sports events over the next three years to further reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the events capital of Asia.