A Hong Kong minister has issued an apology following an incident at the Kai Tak Arena where spectators were asked to leave a World Grand Prix snooker match before its conclusion. The early departure was reportedly due to concerns about public transport services ceasing at midnight. This incident has sparked dismay among sports officials and fans alike.
Snooker Spectators Asked to Leave Mid-Match
Approximately 100 spectators were reportedly told to leave the World Snooker event mid-match. The reason given was the impending shutdown of public transportation in the area. The move has drawn criticism, with many questioning the planning and logistics of the event, especially considering the late hour at which snooker matches often conclude.
Sports chief Rosanna Law expressed her disappointment over the organiser's decision to remove spectators before the end of the match. "It's just not good enough," one fan commented on social media, echoing the sentiment of many who felt the incident was poorly handled.
Minister Issues Apology
In response to the outcry, a Hong Kong minister has publicly apologised for the premature expulsion of fans from the snooker event at Kai Tak Arena. The apology signals an acknowledgement of the disruption and inconvenience caused to the spectators.
"We deeply regret any inconvenience caused to the fans and are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again," stated a government spokesperson.
Kai Tak Sports Park Investigates Ticket Touting Claims
In related news, the Kai Tak Sports Park is also investigating claims that ticket touts were assisting fans in gaining access to the park's opening ceremony. These touts allegedly charged around HK$1,000 per person for entry to the star-studded event on Saturday.
The investigation aims to determine the extent of the alleged touting and to implement measures to prevent such activities in the future. This comes as Hong Kong's sports chief, Rosanna Law, pledges to attract football teams to the Kai Tak Sports Park. Law also mentioned that the park's management has approached over 200 production entities to hold events at the 50,000-seat main stadium.
The Kai Tak Sports Park is hoping to become a major hub for sports and entertainment in Hong Kong, and is actively seeking events to fill its large stadium. Hopefully incidents like the snooker event and ticket touting will be avoided in the future through better planning and management.