Hong Kong sport has come on leaps and bounds since handover, and city can aim even higher, insists sports commissioner
Yeung Tak-keung says the city’s attitude to physical activity and healthy living has been transformed since 1997
Critics might suggest that the fact the city only got around to appointing its first civil servant dedicated to sport almost 20 years after the handover runs counter to Yeung’s claim.
“The general public attitude towards sport has changed a lot since the handover,” said Yeung. “I think a lot of Hong Kong people still remember our windsurfing gold medallist Lee Lai-shan, and how she said ‘Hong Kong athletes are not rubbish’.
“Because at that time [1996], sport was not important in the general public’s mind, and we were not that competitive in the international sports arena.
“But now we have produced many good athletes, many young and promising, and the participation in sports has been growing a lot.
“Compared with 20 years ago I think we have moved forward and we can build on that to aim higher.