Closing private clubs could kill Hong Kong sports and is not the answer to the housing crisis
As the government announces plans to charge hundreds of millions of dollars in land premiums, sporting bodies fear for what the future holds
They may be privileged in the eyes of many but the proletariat are banging at their door. And in nine years – if not before – Joe Public will also have the keys to the private sports clubs of Hong Kong.
There’s no hiding for 24 private sports clubs who have had it too good for too long and are about to pay the price – and a big one at that.
Just the thought of paying hundreds of millions of dollars in a (discounted) land premium would spell immediate doom, but being forced to allow the great unwashed into their bathrooms and hallowed halls might even be harder to swallow.
Land supply is the biggest problem in Hong Kong but putting the squeeze on a few sports clubs is short-sighted when there other bigger fish the government could hook, but don’t want to cast their rods.
It would be unfair to ignore the contribution of these clubs in Hong Kong sports. Many built their own facilities when government investment in sport was nowhere to be seen.
