HONG KONG: A HK$100 million government fund to sponsor mega events will be open to applications beginning next Wednesday. The project is aimed at bringing more tourists to the city, authorities said.

Joey Lam Kam-ping, the deputy commissioner for tourism, said the government will try to make sure the money will be well spent by closely monitoring the selected groups which win funding.

She said authorities will prevent a repeat of the controversial Harbour Fest in 2003, which came under fire by the public and the director of audit for the government's alleged mishandling.

The festival, which cost the government HK$100 million for promoting Hong Kong, was plagued by problems such as poor organization and low ticket sales for some shows.

Lam said under the scheme, organizers will have to meet targets set and warned that the government may withdraw the sponsorship if the groups fail to fulfill the agreements.

She said the government will fund up to half the production cost of each project and the main organizer of the event must be local non-profit-making groups.

Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, the chairman of the assessment committee of the Mega Events Fund, said it plans to sponsor large-scale arts, cultural and sports events that are able to draw at least 10,000 spectators, participants and journalists each.

"We hope to bring in more tourists so as to boost Hong Kong's economy and promote our city. Hong Kong has many tourist attractions. It is also a dining and shopping paradise. It is worth promoting," he said.

Vincent Fung Hao-yin, an assistant commissioner for tourism, said the city welcomes all kinds of projects such as international film festivals, concerts and sailing races.

He said the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club had earlier expressed interest in hosting an international sailing race in the city and the assessment panel will consider the project if it applies.

Jeffrey Lam said annual sports events like Hong Kong Sevens can also seek its funding if their organizers want to roll out some new initiatives in an attempt to draw more tourists.

He said it has yet to know how many projects will be funded under the scheme but pledged that the panel will not put all the eggs in one basket, so more than one event will be sponsored.

Joey Lam said groups which are awarded government funding may still seek commercial sponsorships.

Jeffrey Lam expected the result of the first-round application will be released by autumn and he said he hopes the first show will be put on as early as winter.

(HK Edition 06/27/2009 page1)