Pitch recovery:
Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing (centre) says a review will find ways to improve the Hong Kong Stadium football ground.
Pitch recovery:
Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing (centre) says a review will find ways to improve the Hong Kong Stadium football ground.
Stadium pitch review mooted
July 29, 2013
Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing says a review will be conducted to find ways to improve the Hong Kong Stadium football ground after tonight's match between Hong Kong First Division League team Kitchee and English Premier League team Manchester United.
Speaking to the media after visiting the stadium today, Mr Tsang said Manchester United had inspected the pitch and found it acceptable to hold the match there this evening.
Mr Tsang said Chief Executive CY Leung also went to see the pitch this morning. As Hong Kong is a city with many mega events, it should not let citizens and fans down, Mr Leung said, and urged the Leisure & Cultural Services Department to better maintain the facility.
Mr Tsang said a review will seek short-, medium- and long-term measures to solve the problem.
The grass on the pitch usually grows well in July when there are no competitions. Intensive competitive events held there recently, and heavy rain in the past few days, had taken a toll on the pitch, he said. He realised people are not happy about this, and he apologised.
The department had commissioned a New Zealand consultant last June to advise it on how best to maintain the grass, adding it had been replaced 10 years ago.
The department’s Assistant Director Olivia Chan said the ground had been damaged during the Hong Kong Sevens in March, and had undergone much maintenance work since then.
On July 24, she said Happy Valley had 100mm of rainfall, and the pitch had been damaged in previous events, adding it takes time for the ground to recover.
She said the department always tried its best to work with organisers to allow spectators to enjoy good matches, adding it hopes to do better next time.
