In an exclusive interview, Law told RTHK she deliberately avoids discussing medal predictions ahead of any major competition, preferring to let athletes concentrate on their performance.
“It’s not that I don’t have a figure in mind – of course I do – but what matters most for athletes is that they perform at their own level – ideally even above their usual standard – that they give their all and never give up,” she said.
“We always say this is the SAR spirit we see in athletes from the Hong Kong, China team. That’s what I look forward to.”
To back up the SAR squad with tangible action, the government has boosted its financial commitment for this year’s Asian Games.
While the sports development fund historically covered around 90 percent of travel and participation costs for major international events, the city is now providing full funding for its 580-strong delegation.
Law said the move would give athletes more opportunities to sharpen their skills through competition.
“However hard you train in the Sports Institute, perhaps an opportunity to go abroad and compete with top tier athletes in the area would be even more effective,” she said.
“That’s why we raised the ceiling for subsidy and we increased the frequency that they could participate in international events and that means an elevation of their resources as well.”
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism also pointed to a string of encouraging results from SAR athletes in the lead-up to the Games, including a silver medal for the men’s foil fencing team at the World Championships in Hong Kong.
They also include a win and a runner-up finish in men’s badminton singles at the China Masters, and a gold medal for the men’s rugby sevens team at the Asian Rugby Sevens in Suzhou.
Law highlighted strong performances in other disciplines as well, such as golf and swimming, and expressed confidence that athletes returning to the Asian Games – especially those who have recently achieved world-class results – would carry a certain degree of self-belief.
Turning to team sports, Law said that a comprehensive review of support in this area would be conducted early next year, after the Asian Games.
The review, she said, will examine several key areas, including development pathways, medical and sports science support, facility allocation, and coaching quality.
Law cited the handball team’s historic semi-final run at the National Games as evidence that amateur teams are capable of delivering memorable performances, even without securing a medal.
Currently, eight team sports receive government funding. The sports minister said authorities would assess whether more teams can be added and whether existing resources can be stretched further to broaden support.
On the future of tennis and snooker – both of which retained their Tier A sports status last year – Law assured that the government would remain flexible in its backing, provided that results and junior development continue to show promise.
