HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – Enhancing the city's appeal as a destination for tourism and major sports and cultural events was a strong focus of the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) and the 2026 Policy Address, announced by Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee last week (September 16).
Mr Lee unveiled measures to support the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism which will help develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange. These included enriching the supply of high-quality tourism products, while bolstering infrastructure and ancillary facilities as well as deepening engagement with markets in the Chinese Mainland and around the world.
"Hong Kong is blessed with a unique cultural vision, shaped by both Chinese and foreign influences," Mr Lee said. "We will continue to engage and collaborate with Mainland and overseas culture, arts and creative sectors to consolidate Hong Kong's role as a hub for the exchange, collaboration and promotion of culture, arts and creativity. We will also host international cultural and arts exhibitions and performances to attract visitors to Hong Kong."
To support Hong Kong's film industry and promote "Film + Tourism", the Support Unit for Non‑local Film Productions will be set up to provide one‑stop services for Mainland and overseas film crews filming in Hong Kong, attracting the production of more quality films to promote Hong Kong.
Mr Lee noted that the Kai Tak Sports Park has substantially expanded Hong Kong's capacity to host international mega events, with more than 170 sessions of international and local sports and cultural entertainment mega events having been held there so far, attracting over 2.6 million spectators.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government will explore the redevelopment of Victoria Park Centre Court and other ancillary facilities into an iconic all‑weather, multi‑purpose venue for holding larger‑scale and higher‑level sports events, as well as performance activities.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rosanna Law, highlighted the growing trend of multi-destination tourism. Ms Law said that Hong Kong welcomed around 36.67 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of about 11 per cent.
"The proportion of overseas visitors travelling onwards to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong has continued to rise, exceeding 20% in the first half of 2026," Ms Law said.
The HKSAR Government will continue to capitalise on measures introduced by the Central Government to facilitate visits by foreign travellers to the Chinese Mainland, deepen collaboration with Mainland provinces and municipalities, and explore with the country additional immigration facilitation arrangements for international visitors. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will promote multi destination travel itineraries to overseas visitors, partner with airlines to roll out relevant tourism products and promotional offers, and intensify publicity overseas.
It will take forward "+ Tourism" joint initiatives, integrating various events with tourism to raise their appeal, aiming to extend visitor stays in Hong Kong and generate value‑adding momentum. Such joint initiatives would integrate tourism with mega events, ecology, heritage, finance and industrial brands.
On developing the yacht economy, Mr Lee said that a variety of new yacht berth projects are now moving ahead, including the tender for the composite development project in Aberdeen comprising a marina, recreational facilities and residential development scheduled for the first half of 2027, and the yacht bay project under the Airport City "SKYTOPIA".
"In addition, starting from May, Hong Kong and Macao yachts may navigate in nine Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area cities, with the requirement for guarantee exempted and under temporary ship nationality registration," Mr Lee said. "The first northbound travel of yachts from Hong Kong set sail in June. The Marine Department will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration for the implementation of southbound travel for yachts from Guangdong, adding impetus to cross‑boundary leisure consumption."
To further enhance the city's appeal as a Muslim‑friendly destination, the HKTB will extend the Hong Kong Restaurants Halal Certification Funding Scheme to the end of 2027, encouraging the industry to provide more Muslim‑friendly food options.
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Drivers aged 8–17 build real race experience through qualifying, attack, defense and overtaking
HONG KONG / GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 — For a young racing driver, there is far more to learn from a kart race than simply setting the fastest lap. Organised by China Hong Kong Motorsports Centre (CHKMC) with the support of IAME Series Asia and HKAA, the opening round of the HK Youth Karting Championship 2026 was recently completed at Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit.
Over two days of practice, qualifying and competitive racing, young drivers from Hong Kong put their training into action, testing their speed, race craft and decision-making under genuine race conditions.
The championship features two categories — Cadet for drivers aged 8–12 using 60cc karts and Junior for drivers aged 12–17 using 125cc karts — competing on the approximately 1.2-kilometre, 14-corner circuit.
From lap time to real race craft
The weekend began with practice, allowing drivers to refine braking points, racing lines and corner-exit speed with support from coaches and mechanics.
Qualifying then challenged competitors to produce a competitive lap within a limited time on track to secure the best possible starting position.
However, once the racing began, outright speed was only part of the challenge.
With multiple karts fighting for position at the very first corner, drivers had to assess the traffic around them, choose attacking or defensive lines and decide when to overtake or hold position.
Over the two days of racing, the young drivers chased each other through various corners, with moments of side-by-side cornering, defending positions, and looking for overtaking opportunities. For young drivers, managing traffic on the track, race pressure, and split-second decision-making are experiences that are difficult to fully simulate in routine solo practice.
These situations help young drivers develop genuine race craft, which is an important step for a driver to learn, progress and grow in motorsports.
One Make Karting unifies kart and engine specification, putting the focus on the driver
The championship adopts a One Make Karting / Arrive & Drive format, with race karts and competition equipment arranged to a unified specification, together with designated practice and race tyres.
By reducing equipment differences, the format places greater emphasis on driving technique, consistency, decision-making and race strategy.
It also gives young racers stepping into competitive racing for the first time the opportunity to experience a complete race weekend, from practice and qualifying to race starts, on-track battles and post-session analysis.
The value of the first race is not measured by podium positions
In youth motorsport, results are important, but racing experience often has to be built up race by race.
A position gained or lost at the start, choosing the right moment to overtake, or learning how to recover after a mistake can become valuable lessons for the next race.
CHKMC Head Coach Chester Lam said, "Training can teach a driver racing lines, braking points and kart control, but a real race involves other drivers, starts, attack and defense, and pressure. It is a completely different situation."
"Young drivers need real racing to gradually learn how to read a race. Every time they complete a race, they should be equipped with more experience than they had before."
Karting has long been one of the first forms of competitive motorsport experienced by many professional racing drivers. CHKMC hopes to create more opportunities for young people in Hong Kong to develop from fundamental training to track driving and, ultimately, real racing.
From Hong Kong to a wider Asian racing stage
The aim of the HK Youth Karting Championship is not for every participant to become a front-running racer immediately, but to provide a platform where young drivers can compete, make mistakes, learn and gradually build their racing experience.
From lining up on the starting grid to attempting an overtake, defending a position or understanding tyres and changing track conditions, every race adds another layer to a young driver's development.
The championship also connects young racers with the wider Asian karting scene.
Strong performers in the Cadet and Junior categories may have the opportunity to progress towards the IAME Asia Final 2026 in Macau, competing alongside drivers from across the region.
Round 1 complete, attention turns to the next challenge
Following the opening round, drivers and coaching teams started reviewing lap times, racing lines and overall performance as they prepare for the next race.
The HK Youth Karting Championship 2026 will continue with its next round at Guangzhou Conghua International Circuit on 10 – 11 October 2026, giving young racers another opportunity to apply what they learned and continue building valuable race experience.
For a young driver, the chequered flag at the end of one race is not the end of the journey.
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