The Hong Kong government will review the approval and monitoring mechanism of the “M” mark system (M品牌) following Argentinian football star Lionel Messi’s absence in an exhibition match in the city earlier this month, said Hong Kong’s tourism chief Kevin Yeung.
In a written response to legislator Paul Tse, Yeung said that the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the Major Sports Events Committee are “currently consolidating experiences” from the Messi fiasco that includes reviewing the approval and monitoring mechanism of the “M” mark system.
The review is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year.
The “M” mark system was launched in 2004 to support the hosting of international sports events in Hong Kong through the provision of matching funds and direct grants, which the government hopes will enhance the future of sporting event sponsorships among enterprises and support sports development in Hong Kong.
Yeung said that the…
