CY Leung's appointment of a Commissioner for Sports is a ‘step in the right direction’ for Hong Kong

The jury is still out but appointing a Commissioner for Sports in Hong Kong is seen as a step in the right direction.

The local sporting community has generally welcomed the move by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in his fourth and last policy address. Leung said he would appoint the Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs responsible for sport policies as the new Commissioner for Sports to co-ordinate initiatives.

“The two posts remain very similar in terms of job responsibilities but it has given sport an independent role within the government structure,” said Pui Kwan-kay, vice-president of the Olympic Committee and president of the Judo Association.

“Before, sport was under the Home Affairs Bureau but a commissioner means there is an independent official to deal with sports development. It seems to be moving in the right direction.”

Yeung Tak-keung, currently the deputy secretary responsible for sports and recreation in the Home Affairs Bureau, will take up the new role as Commissioner for Sports but a government source said Yeung would continue to report to the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, just like in the post he took up last month replacing outgoing Jonathan McKinley.

The commissioner will focus on sports policies and strategies, the football task force, Kai Tak Multi-purpose Sports Complex, major sports events and planning of sporting and recreation facilities.

Yeung has a keen interest in sport, having played a number of codes including squash. He attended the Hong Kong Squash Open in December in an official capacity.