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'Give us a venue and we'll put on a show'

Hong Kong deserves a major sporting event, says Marlene Lee. The strategic PR/event manager worked hard on bringing the 2006 Asian Games here, blaming inadequate infrastructure for losing out to Doha, Qatar.

'Hong Kong deserves a significant event. We worked on a bid for the Asian Games and it was something I was proud of because we got the city engaged in the common cause, in a very short time.

'In the space of four-to-six weeks the people knew Hong Kong was bidding for something. We should be able to win an event like that, but we didn't have the right infrastructure.

'I think we can bring other events here. We can do it. We've almost got everything that it takes and we have a lot of pluses that other markets don't have. We don't have the pollution problems or the security problems that some of the other cities have.

'One of the biggest things you have to watch out for is safety and security. We had an event where the local police came to us and said a message had come through that al-Qaeda were watching because of how many Americans were in it. It was in Malaysia. We had to go into crisis management, understand the local ramifications, and the local geography to know where they may come from.

'One of the primary focuses I have is safety and security - 9/11 changed all of us in that way.'

For Hong Kong to be seriously considered for a major event, Lee said a dedicated 'minister of sport' and a new stadium were priorities.

'We need a minister for sport. One of the biggest things we faced with the Asian Games was the lobbying with the other countries. It's a huge exercise. The whole effort is about making plans, making relationships, explaining to each of these countries why we can do this at a better level than the next guy. Unless you engage people at the right level, then you won't get the buy in. The only way you can do that is to have an equivalent person at a government level which is always going to be the minister of sport in the other market.'

Hong Kong's equivalent is the Secretary for Home Affairs, Patrick Ho Chi-ping, who oversees 168 statutory and advisory bodies.

'He's doing everything, from the rubbish bins to cultural events. It's a huge portfolio. What Hong Kong needs is a dedicated personality with a passion, able to open doors, able to follow up and to get in there. 'We need a leader and a vision and a direction to take the future of sport into the next era so Hong Kong gets the recognition it deserves, for being in this perfect position for entering the China market,

'We're going to lose that because everyone's going directly [to China]. Look at the infrastructure being built in Shanghai right now, look what they're doing with the Formula One.'

Lee's most successful account, the Hong Kong Sevens, has been hit partly because of the wonderful atmosphere created by the amphitheatre around the Hong Kong Stadium, but the 40,000 seater is a white elephant for the rest of the year because of noise restrictions.

'We need a stadium that's as big as Hong Kong Stadium. Actually we need it bigger if we're going to go for multi-sport events; probably 50,000 or 60,000 to go for the Asian Games or something. But we also need the mid-sized range. We don't have the perfect 5,000-to-8,000 stadium.

'I've got no problems with having it at Kai Tak, as long as the infrastructure is built into it, the MTR can lead into it. Somewhere like Victoria Park is great. And Tamar. You've got the best and most expensive piece of property in the world and it's a parking lot.'

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