Our Hong Kong Foundation releases green mega event report

Our Hong Kong Foundation has released a policy research report focusing on the development of "green mega events" in the city.

The report highlights how economic growth driven by socio-environmental benefits could further cement Hong Kong's status as a premier international mega event capital.

Hong Kong's mega event economy attracted 3 million tourists and raked in close to 9.8 billion dollars last year, but the city's reputation as a world class events hub could go hand in hand with an increasing awareness of those activities' environmental footprint.

Having earlier released its green mega events research report, Our Hong Kong Foundation (OHKF) suggests that the city can rake in an estimated 1 billion dollars by introducing sustainability requirements into the industry.

The OHKF stresses the promotion of green mega events will not hinder Hong Kong's ability to attract events.

The think tank adds the measure is guided by three principles -- prioritising mega events and allowing green transformation to follow, facilitating a government-led, multi-stakeholder collaboration as well as a gradual approach for market adaptation.

We need the whole industry and government to work together.

So, of course the government can try to provide some subsidies.

But at the same time, from our research, for example like the Coldplay case, actually we found that over 90 % recycled waste.

That means Hong Kong citizens do care about the environment.

Actually we want to provide more incentives for them in this area.

For example, if you take public transportation, we can give them some discount, for example for buying different green-related products.

If you join some green mega events just like these cases, you could see there are some discounts in the transportation.

In hopes of transforming Hong Kong into a green mega event capital, Our Hong Kong Foundation made several recommendations in accordance to the three pillars of demand, supply and ecosystem -- they include requiring eligible event organisers to submit green event plans and the incorporation of sustainability performance for post-event evaluations.