Hong Kong Positioned as Asia's Football Hub at World Football Summit 2025

Speech by SCST at Closing Panel of World Football Summit Hong Kong 2025

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Closing Panel of the World Football Summit Hong Kong 2025 today (September 4):

Mr Jan Alessie (Co-founder and Managing Director of the World Football Summit), Eric (Chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, Mr Eric Fok), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon, and it is my great pleasure to finally join you at this Closing Panel of the World Football Summit. I actually came back from Beijing late last night to make myself available for at least the closing part of this important summit, which is a fitting final act of a thrilling international football season or football summer here in Hong Kong. So allow me to say really more than a few words, because this is the only opportunity that I can speak to such a distinguished audience. Let me first extend my very warmest welcome to all influential football stakeholders who gathered here for the first time in Hong Kong to share insightful views on trends in the global football industry. I hope everyone had fruitful and rewarding exchanges at the two-day Summit, filled with multiple panels on a wide range of topics.

Asia stands today as the world's largest and fastest-growing football market, driven by large fan bases and rapidly expanding sponsorship opportunities. Over the last two days, many useful exchanges should have taken place on how such positive features could be utilised to better shape the future of football in Asia, both commercially and in terms of elevating the standard and quality of football in this part of the world. In this connection, I trust you also have had a glimpse of why Hong Kong stands out in Asia as holding the keys to football's regional future. But do please allow me to share a few of my views on the strengths of Hong Kong and our collective offering.

First, Hong Kong has the infrastructure. The Kai Tak Sports Park, the US$4-billion, largest-ever sports and entertainment infrastructure that the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government has ever invested in, was commissioned officially in March this year. Some of you, such as friends from Tottenham Hotspur who played at Kai Tak Stadium just five weeks ago, and if, on top of football you are also rugby fans, you would have already experienced the state-of-the-art high-tech hardware in this 50 000-strong capacity Stadium. From what I have heard thus far from the teams that have played in the Stadium, reviews on Kai Tak Stadium since its debut have been very positive.

In just seven months since its commissioning, we have already hosted matches including Liverpool (FC), Arsenal and Spurs from the English Premier League, AC Milan from Serie A and the India national team. At the risk of "over-marketing", Kai Tak Stadium is an all-weather, fully air-conditioned venue, which you would especially appreciate over Hong Kong's very hot summer.

In addition to Kai Tak Stadium, the 40 000-seat Hong Kong Stadium, which some of you may have visited in the past, has also played host to a number of important football matches this year. The annual Guangdong - Hong Kong Cup and Chinese New Year Cup featuring Legends from major European leagues in the first quarter of 2025; Manchester United, my favourite but struggling team, versus the Hong Kong, China Representative Team in May; and the series of exciting games of Saudi Super Cup in August, all took place at Hong Kong Stadium, which might be less eye-catching technology-wise, but more than compensated for its nostalgic value and central location of being only a few steps away from the bustling Causeway Bay and Wan Chai area.

Together, these two large-scale venues now provide the perfect conditions for Hong Kong to serve as a launchpad of Asia's football development.

Second, Hong Kong has the market. Located at the centre of Asia, where the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is home to more than 87 million people, where the rest of China and most East and Southeast Asian countries, which are home to half of the world's population, are within hours' flight time, and where more direct flights from locations, such as Riyadh, to Hong Kong are now in operation, Hong Kong has a unique global appeal to Asian markets in the world of premium international football. With our proximity to the Mainland of China, which has the largest football fan base in the world, Hong Kong is a natural gateway for clubs, federations and investors seeking collaboration opportunities across the Mainland market. And if you have just joined one of the games I mentioned just now, you will testify to the electrifying atmosphere, created by our civilised, but raving at all times fans, and agree with me that it is like the best party in the world.

On top of the games themselves, Hong Kong's world-class tourism infrastructure, featuring a wide range of luxurious to value-for-money hotels, diverse dining options at different price points, and one of the most efficient transportation systems in the world, provides the ideal environment for hosting large-scale football events that can, most important of all, draw regional and international visitors, but also an attractive vacation destination for players, staff and their families.

Now let the numbers speak for themselves. The depth and breadth of our market is best showcased by the popularity of the several key football matches held in Hong Kong this year. The first-ever overseas North London Derby, featuring Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, held in Hong Kong on July 31, attracted a record-breaking attendance of 49 975. The series of matches in the Saudi Super Cup, which is a relatively new brand for fans in this part of the world, has achieved an aggregated attendance of over 80 000; a great number of them are actually fans from the Middle East and elsewhere.

Hong Kong's third point of strength lies with our proven expertise in organising international matches and mega events. Eric, our Chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, will of course be even better placed to share with you the experts and professionals we possess in Hong Kong. But I believe I will sound convincing enough when I point you to the consecutive successes of all the important football matches in Hong Kong that are staged this year and the wonderful reports, social media posts and photos that accompanied these matches.

Last but not least, I should state to you clearly the commitment of the Hong Kong SAR Government in supporting football development. We invest in venues. We invest in youth training. We also invest in cultivating spectators. The solid partnership between the Government and HKFA (Football Association of Hong Kong, China) under Eric's leadership provides a super-effective platform for the football industry to thrive.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can go on to talk more, such as about broadcast innovation, advanced technologies, live-streaming platforms, etc, which of course adds a lot of value to driving football development in Hong Kong and elsewhere. But you need to just take away these important points, and remember Hong Kong's world-class infrastructure, huge international market, our proven capability and the positive attitude and commitment of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Joining our hands together, we will shape the future and drive the growth of football as both a sport and an industry in Asia.

On this note, I thank you all for joining us at this rewarding Summit and wish you an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong.

Thank you.

Source: AI-found images

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases