Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park to host 10,000 during first trial of main stadium
Rugby event will help assess the effectiveness of crowd dispersal using public transport
Hong Kong’s soon-to-open Kai Tak Sports Park will host the first test event at its main stadium on Sunday with 10,000 spectators expected, allowing venue staff to assess their crowd dispersal capabilities using taxis, buses and MTR services.
Authorities also said on Friday they would test an internal communication platform for mobilising taxis during the trial, but special bus arrangements were excluded from the drill as the scale of the event did not require such services.
The 50,000-capacity stadium, set to open in the first quarter this year, will host the University Sports Federation of Hong Kong, China’s rugby sevens tournament finals, featuring 17 teams. The event is considered a test run for the Hong Kong Sevens scheduled to be held in March.
A temporary taxi pickup and drop-off area will be set up on Sung Wong Toi Road – a six- to seven-minute walk to the main stadium – during the trial, said Eric Wan Pak-yan, the Transport Department’s principal transport officer.
According to Wan, the Kai Tak Sports Park will test a communication platform, developed with the help of the department, giving real-time updates to taxi operators about demand at the temporary cab stand.
MTR and bus services would operate on a regular basis, Wan said, adding that operators would monitor the crowds and adjust service frequency as needed.
