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Harvey Kong

Hong Kong has made effective crowd management a top priority at a soon-to-open, 50,000-seat mega stadium ahead of Coldplay’s arrival next year, the city’s No 2 official has said, pledging the venue will hold trial runs before its opening.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Saturday that conducting test runs would allow stakeholders to familiarise themselves with entering and exiting procedures at the venue at Kai Tak Sports Park.
“Being able to disperse a crowd at Kai Tak Sports Park efficiently is our most important work goal. We will do plenty of trials before the venue is put to use next year, so we can ensure the dispersal of crowds will be safe and orderly,” he told a radio programme.
Chan also said the site already had sufficient public transport connections.
A day earlier lawmakers raised concerns over whether the local transport network could accommodate crowds of Coldplay fans heading to and from the stadium for the band’s performances on April 9, 11 and 12.
The shows mark Coldplay’s first appearance in Hong Kong since 2009.
Chan said on Saturday that he had held multiple meetings with the Transport Department and police to discuss crowd management, expressing confidence that there would be no major problems.
The No 2 official said test events would also help residents, public transport operators and police become familiar with the venue’s layout. He noted that no such issues had occurred at Causeway Bay’s 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium.
“Why is the crowd dispersal at Hong Kong Stadium so smooth? The reason is that everyone is used to it,” he said. “Everyone knows where to go after they come out from the stadium and everyone knows how long you need to walk, this is very important.”
Chan said the stadium in Kai Tak had sufficient transport options, with MTR trains being the main choice. There were also bus stops and taxis available in the area, he added.
“For Kai Tak, there are three to four MTR stations that people can walk to, if one station is full, they can head to another after walking for a bit,” he said.
“I believe police will offer professional guidance and crowd control, so people who have finished watching the show can be dispersed more efficiently.”
He Huahan, a district councillor for Kowloon City, said on Friday that the neighbourhood relied on the Tuen Ma train line and that Kai Tak station was a 20-minute walk from the stadium.
He added that buses and cars heading from the venue would need to use the already crowded Ma Tau Wai Road.

Lawmakers on Friday suggested the government consider adding paid shuttle buses and temporary pontoons to help ease anticipated crowds.
Concerns over insufficient transport options in the area were raised last year when passengers travelling on cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas were left stuck waiting for buses and taxis after disembarking at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.
Complaints from passengers prompted an urgent meeting with government departments, the Tourism Board and the cruise terminal operator, resulting in the launch of temporary bus routes and incentives for taxi drivers to stop there.
Chan on Saturday also discussed interest in the venue among overseas groups, saying authorities had received a lot of inquiries, including messages from music and sports industry representatives.
He said he believed the park would serve as an attractive facility for visitors and authorities could make full use of it to boost the tourism sector and drive other parts of the economy.
City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said early this month that he had instructed officials to prepare for the park’s opening during the first quarter of next year, with the venue to hold a launch event featuring local pop stars and athletes.
He tasked authorities with devising crowd control measures to ensure visitors could smoothly enter and exit the facility.
Lee said the new stadium would be mentioned in his next annual policy address in October.


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Crowd control at Hong Kong’s Coldplay concerts at Kai Tak stadium a top priority: official

British band Coldplay will perform in Hong Kong in April of next year. Photo: AFP

Chief Secretary Eric Chan has said he received a lot of inquiries from overseas groups, including music and sports industry representatives, about booking Kai Tak stadium. Photo: Handout

Is Hong Kong’s transport network ready for Coldplay’s arrival? Lawmakers raise concerns

Coldplay has confirmed it will be coming to the city in April of next year. Photo: AFP

Kai Tak Sports Park is expected to open early next year. Photo: Jelly Tse

Coldplay confirm 3 concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak stadium in April 2025

The announcement from Coldplay confirms an earlier report from the Post. Photo: Facebook/Coldplay

The soon-to-open Kai Tak Sports Park will host three Coldplay concerts in April. Photo: Dickson Lee

As Coldplay’s return to Hong Kong sparks joy, the Post looks at past visits by global stars

Coldplay is tipped to perform in Hong Kong early next year. Photo: Facebook/Coldplay

Hong Kong hosted numerous concerts in 2018 that featured big names such as Bruno Mars, John Legend, Katy Perry, Guns N’ Roses (pictured) and The Script. Photo: Kennevia Photography

Lady Gaga’s arrival in Hong Kong saw ticket sell out fast for her four shows. Photo: SCMP

Madonna’s stop-off in Hong Kong saw fans from the mainland coming to see her perform. Photo: Handout

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Hong Kong

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Chief Secretary Eric Chan also says venue has sufficient transport links, a day after lawmakers raise concerns over insufficient capacity


Chief Secretary Eric Chan also says venue has sufficient transport links, a day after lawmakers raise concerns over insufficient capacity.
