As Hong Kong consolidates its place in the sporting and entertainment calendar, it must be prepared for the crowds to come
Rightly or wrongly, Hong Kong is often compared with Shanghai or Singapore in various ways.
From attracting foreign capital and talents to staging mega-concerts and events, the three places are seen as competing against each other.
But while rivalry has become unavoidable on the global stage these days, Hong Kong certainly has its own unique strengths and appeal.
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Concerns have been raised as big names such as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga bypassed Hong Kong for performances in Singapore and elsewhere.
Separately, Shanghai has no fewer than 178 sporting events and other attractions lined up this year as part of an economic revival strategy similar to that of Hong Kong.
The mainland metropolis staged two concerts by American diva Mariah Carey last week and will welcome renowned singer Katy Perry in November.
With many regional counterparts also proactively promoting the mega-events economy, standing still means losing out. Hong Kong is therefore right in staging more events to stimulate the economy and consolidate its status as Asia’s events capital.
Evidently, no city can monopolise everything. There is more to success than just securing individual shows.
Indeed, many factors are taken into consideration when it comes to staging a performance, be it an exclusive show or part of a world tour.
Hong Kong’s reputation as a world city is built on its unique strengths and characteristics. Instead of envying or emulating what others get, the city should strive to offer what it can do best.
Over the years, we have successfully staged a number of signature sport events, including the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament.
What sets us further apart is the “one country, two systems” principle, with the city continuing to roll out the red carpet for top foreign performers despite occasional tensions between mainland China and other countries.
Visa-free access for many foreign nationals means our mega-events remain accessible to visitors both near and far.
The opening of Kai Tak Sports Park is set to consolidate our position in the events calendar, attracting British rock band Coldplay, South Korean girl group Blackpink and other regional superstars.
But there also needs to be a concerted effort to enhance the local infrastructure and capacity for visitors.
Authorities apparently underestimated the impact on border crossings the weekend before last when the holding of several popular concerts resulted in crowds struggling to return to the mainland after midnight.
We trust the government will learn from this and strive to improve the experience of cross-border concertgoers and others. At stake is not only the Hong Kong mega-event brand, but also the city’s image as a visitor-friendly city.
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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