Lee, who sits on a government tourism committee, told RTHK’s Backchat programme that concerts from groups like K-pop sensation Blackpink next year are great, but annual events like the Rugby Sevens have more of an economic impact.
“One of the suggestions I recommended to the government is that we’ve got to have annual events…it’s good because people [then] have expectations, they will actually set aside their schedule to come to Hong Kong,” Lee said.
Lee said the government needs to be more proactive in organising events, rather than leaving it up to the market.
“The government has to be a little more supportive and actually assist organisers to actually secure these annual events to be held in Hong Kong because it’s good for Hong Kong’s economy.”
Lee’s remarks follow a football match at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday, which saw Hong Kong, China clinch a 1-0 victory over India in front of a sold out crowd, in their first home game at the new venue.
Affordable tickets for the match played a big part in its success, according to Lee.
“Kai Tak Stadium is not a stadium for only the wealthy people, it’s a stadium for the Hong Kong people, irrespective of demographic, age or walk of life,” he said.
Lee also said the new stadium, with its large capacity, frees up other venues for lesser known artists.
“In the past, really popular singers will do their concerts at Hong Kong Stadium and they’ll take up like 20 days, because they can sell out 20 days. So now they’re moving to a bigger stadium and it really frees up a lot of other venues as well.”