Sean Hung, Managing Partner at HZL Capital , Alex Norman, Counsel (Sport, Media and Tech) of Bird & Bird , Loron Orris, Founding Partner at Asia Sports Tech , and Sean Zhang, CEO & Co-founder of Talon Esports , share their opinions in this panel discussion moderated by Josh Ye, Tech Reporter from South China Morning Post from the China Conference: Hong Kong. 100 million Hong Kong dollars have been allocated by the Hong Kong Government to foster the development of the esports sector. Sean Zhang, CEO and co-founder of Talon Esports , notes since their start in 2018, they have seen an incredible growth in interest, brand partners and sponsorships, and development in general. They are “trying to build an ecosystem that [they] can develop a community around,” Zhang says. “You see a real development of businesses around the business of esports,” Loron Orris remarks regarding the growing industry in Hong Kong. The public perception of esports is improving, and the idea of making a career in the esports industry is becoming more and more accepted. Much of this growing recognition may be due to the pandemic, as Zhang postulates the extra time at home and reduction in the ability to enjoy traditional sports contributed to the “acceleration and acceptance of esports,” since people were looking for alternative forms of entertainment. As the economy reopens and the opportunity to engage with traditional sports grows, it may seem logical there would be a regression in the esports market, but according to Sean Hung, this is likely not the case. In fact, Orris suggested that “[we] may see a broadening of the different services offered,” by traditional sports platforms in response to the esports industry. In terms of future growth, the panellists speak about several areas to watch out for, including the use of NFTs, sponsorships, developments with media rights, physical collectibles with digital capabilities, VR and AR inclusion, and major events and competitions for high-ranking teams. As these developments continue, Hong Kong’s location and infrastructure put it in a prime position to act as a hub for esports and major events. With the Hong Kong Government promoting the growth of esports and increased interest in the industry, the overall outlook is very positive. With that said, some challenges need to be overcome, such as the speed of growth, the strategy for hosting large esport events, and the somewhat negative perceptions held by those unfamiliar with this new industry. In the coming year, the panellists encourage us to watch out for continued growth and development as esports become more mainstream and Hong Kong gains relevance in the industry. Our playback videos of the conference are available for the ticket holders (LEARN, ELEVATE, and ELEVATE+), please visit our website for more information.