Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Arena fan expulsion fiasco ‘should have been foreseen’

Snooker event organisers and venue operator should have planned for overrun matches, insists Major Sports Events Committee vice-chairman

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Apologies have been made after spectators were ejected from the Kai Tak Arena midway through the World Grand Prix. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 5:18pm, 6 Mar 2025Updated: 8:33pm, 6 Mar 2025

The organiser of the World Grand Prix snooker event in Hong Kong should have reached an agreement with the venue provider beforehand about matches that run over time, observers have said.

Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, vice-chairman of the government’s Major Sports Events Committee, said on Thursday that the ejection of about 100 spectators from Kai Tak Arena earlier in the week had tarnished the city’s reputation in hosting mega-events.

“It is, after all, one of the major competitions at the opening of Kai Tak Sports Park. That is not ideal,” Cheng said. “This should offer a big lesson ... Damage has been done.”

Fans were told to leave the event late on Tuesday because transport services were ending at midnight.

The Consumer Council said it had received 12 complaints related to the event as of 5pm on Thursday, involving a combined HK$23,215 (US$2,990). Four of the complaints were from spectators who were upset about being told to leave early on Tuesday.

Cheng urged event organisers and the venue operator to take this incident as a lesson and review the plans as the international competition carried Hong Kong’s name as a brand.