HKFA to bid for government 'landfill' funding for Tseung Kwan O training facility
Chairman says government scheme can bring forward construction of centre without having to wait for Jockey Club support
The long-awaited training centre in Tseung Kwan O may start construction next year, even without the support of its supposed major financier, the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Hong Kong Football Association chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak said yesterday they had decided to apply for another source of funding to kick the project off as soon as possible.
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said in his policy address in January that the government had earmarked HK$1 billion to set up a Restored Landfill Revitalisation Funding Scheme to develop recreational facilities. One of the proposed landfill sites for restoration is in Tseung Kwan O.
The HKFA intends to apply for the maximum sum of HK$100 million. "The TKO soccer centre has been on the drawing board since 2003 as it is a very complicated development involving construction on a landfill site," Brian Leung said yesterday.
We may face competition from other organisations, but are confident it will remain for the use of soccer; it has been earmarked for soccer for over a decade
"We can bid for funding under the government's initiative to develop the site. We may face competition from other organisations, but are confident it will remain for the use of soccer; it has been earmarked for soccer for over a decade."