Motoring enthusiasts hail raceway talks as step towards Formula One vision
The government's positive response to a proposal to build a car-racing track has been hailed as a breakthrough that would get illegal racers off the road, improve road safety - and perhaps lead to the establishment of a Formula One venue.
The Home Affairs Bureau said yesterday it had welcomed a proposal put forward recently by the Automobile Association and was waiting for more details.
'We welcome the proposal primarily. We think the idea would help promote a healthy development of motor sports in Hong Kong,' a spokeswoman said.
She said the bureau was waiting for a more detailed proposal and if it seemed viable, would liaise with other government departments on the project.
Automobile Association governor Lawrence Yu Kam-kee said it was a breakthrough as calls for a car-racing venue had met a brick wall over the years, with the government viewing motor sport as a 'monster'.
He said the idea was to build a 'speed event venue' not only for car racing but also for road safety activities such as driver training.