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Overseas attempt to secure backing for Games

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Officials sought yesterday to impress overseas sports leaders with the SAR's financial strength and its ability to woo commercial sponsorship for the Asian Games in 2006.

Secretary for Home Affairs Lam Woon-kwong, who is heading a delegation to the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent, was lobbying at an Olympic Council of Asia meeting and said Hong Kong would be able to market the event into the best international sports event in Asia.

An evaluation committee from the council is understood to have raised questions about projected revenue from sponsorship during an inspection tour to Hong Kong last month.

The Government has sought the legislature's approval for a deficit of more than $900 million to host the Games.

In his presentation to the executive board of the council, Mr Lam said: 'Our strong economy, worldwide business connections, world-class tourist attractions, an enormous customer base and expertise in management and organisation will definitely help us attract huge commercial sponsorship.

'We have 840 international corporations which have chosen Hong Kong as their regional headquarters. We also have a large amount of fiscal reserves, which means that the Hong Kong . . . Government is in a very healthy state to finance the Games.'

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