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How Typhoon Mangkhut showed Hong Kong is on the right track with private sports club leases
The restoration work after Typhoon Mangkhut served to highlight the wisdom of current government policy with regard to the promotion of sport. Sports like sailing and golf suffered damages that could run into at least eight figures (“Hong Kong sport counts cost of Typhoon Mangkhut damage ”, September 17).
Sport clubs that enjoy private recreational leases from the government are paying for all the damages suffered. That means only like-minded enthusiasts are paying. If these were government-owned facilities, every taxpayer would be paying, whether you participate in the sport or not.
I applaud the government’s speedy clean-up, but we should acknowledge that part of the quick recovery was made possible by private citizens, including the sports clubs.
Watch: Typhoon Mangkhut swamps golf course in Shek O
Small government works in Hong Kong. With regard to promoting sport through private recreational leases, there is not much that needs to be improved, barring a review of how to strike a balance between increasing public usage and protecting the rights of those who pay for the construction and the maintenance of the facilities.
Let's concentrate on making Hong Kong a better city, which in part requires more sports facilities that are available to more residents. Sport clubs have delivered and will continue to do so.
Lowell Chang, Causeway Bay
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