'We in Hong Kong are totally committed to making the 2009 East Asian Games a success,' Dr Ho told 400 guests at a 'Hong Kong Night' held under the shadow of the Macau Tower.

The proposed state-of-the-art multi-purpose stadium on the former Kai Tak airport site will not be included in the 2009 Games plans due to time constraints.

Unlike Macau, which had to build facilities from scratch to host the ongoing 4th East Asian Games, the Hong Kong government believes the existing infrastructure is capable of holding the regional games. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Hong Kong Stadium.

The Macau government spent $4 billion on 17 projects, most of them new, to hold the 17 sports being contested by nine countries and regions. Hong Kong is building only one new facility - the Tseung Kwan O track and field stadium.

'The Legislative Council has approved $300 million to build the Tseung Kwan O sports ground, which comprises a main sports ground and a secondary ground that will be used for the East Asian Games track and field events and other international athletic events,' Dr Ho said.

'To cater for the East Asian Games, we will also carry out enhancement works to more than 10 indoor and outdoor sports venues. Such enhancement works will include thematic designs, renovation works, additional new facilities as well as installation of facilities for doping control and a media centre.

'The total cost will amount to more than $700 million. Detailed plans will be submitted to Legco soon to seek funding approval.'

Among the existing facilities that will get a facelift are the ageing Queen Elizabeth Stadium, the Hong Kong Coliseum and the Kowloon Park Indoor Swimming Pool.

Dr Ho also revealed that the operational cost for staging the 2009 Games was more than likely to rise from the $170 million approved by the Legislative Council in 2003 - on the provision that $90 million be offset by the sale of TV rights and other related income.

He said the government was reviewing the budget and would consult Legco's Home Affairs Panel on it by the end of this year. A 2009 East Asian Games planning committee has already been formed and is chaired by Dr Ho, with representatives from the sports sector and the community.

Paying a tribute to Macau's hosting of this year's Games, Dr Ho said: 'We can all see what an enormous undertaking it has been and we wish them well. In 2009 Hong Kong would like to host a spectacular Games.'

A taste of what could come in 2009 was provided by Hong Kong songbird Francis Yip, who serenaded guests - including Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah and tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun - with a rendition of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World.

However, local sports officials warn it may not be all that wonderful for Hong Kong, which will need to move fast if it is to come anywhere near matching Macau's stunning opening ceremony and smooth-running Games.

'Our success will not just have to be about building facilities, we need the whole community to get involved,' said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee. 'We will have to live up to the benchmark which has been set by Macau.'