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SCMP Reporter

Hong Kong has made a bid to host the 2006 Asian Games. The Government is working hard on winning the bid.

Youths in the SAR have different views on the issue.

Lok Kin-ping, a 16-year-old Form Four student from Chan  Sui  Ki (La Salle) College,  agreed that being the host country could improve  Hong Kong's  international image, but he had his reservations.

'The most important problem is space,'  Kin-ping said.

'Hong Kong is not big  enough to hold such a large- scale  event. Besides, we need space to accommodate all the athletes.'

He said some of the competing countries were much bigger.

Bo Bo Cheung Po-lun, 17, a  Form  Five student from Hong  Kong True  Light College who is a volleyball player,  had similar thoughts.

'Unless there are  more places like Hong Kong Stadium, the SAR has no winning edge,'  she said.

But Po-lun said that in the five years she had been playing volleyball, the Government had made a tremendous effort to boost sports in Hong Kong, which was encouraging.

'There are many aspiring athletes in Hong Kong,' she said.

Caness Chan Yan-yan, 14, a  third former  from Stewards Ma  Kam Ming Charity Foundation  Ma Ko Pan Memorial College said the SAR's bid to host the Games was not a wise decision.

'It is  a waste of money and time. The competition is too strong,' she said.

Many people think that host ing the Games would boost tourism, but Yan-yan said it would only be a short-term benefit.

'Many tourists will come to see the Games, but after that, it would not be any different. Tourism would slow down again,' she said.

Yeung Wing-yee, 21, a year two student majoring in teaching English as a second language at City University of Hong Kong, was not very confident.

'Hong Kong people are not very enthusiastic about sports. Besides, there are also not enough facilities to support the event,' she said.

'It might also create a lot of problems such as traffic congestion.'

But Ms Yeung believed that hosting the Games would bring economic benefits.

Ko Hin-lun, 24, a fresh graduate from City University of Hong  Kong,  said the costs would outweigh the benefits.

'The Government could use the money to tackle unemployment or improve welfare, which would be more practical.'

Mr Ko also said that Hong Kong had already achieved international status so hosting the Games would not be of much help.

Lam Cheuk-lok, 19, a seventh former  from CSBS Mrs Aw Boon  Haw Secondary School, was certain that hosting the Games would bring benefits although she was not sure if Hong Kong would win the bid.

'Hosting the Games would definitely boost the economy. It would also create more jobs as more stadiums will be built. Unemployment will go down,' she said.

Cheuk-lok acknowledged that the Asian Games was an important event, but compared to the Olympics, it was less attractive.

By  November, the Olympic Council of Asia will come to a decision on whether Hong Kong, New Delhi, Doha (Capital of Qatar) or Kuala Lumpur will  host the  Games.

Olive and Deniece are  summer interns from

Hong Kong Baptist University and Hong Kong Shue Yan College, respectively

Graphic: YPSPLLGLO



Bid to host Games gets mixed response