WHILE HONG KONG and its new Kai Tak Sports Park are banking on success when the facility’s stadium welcomes its first Rugby Sevens, finance giants have already timed their events for the week running up to the party-fuelled weekend.
HSBC this week announced that its Global Investment Summit will be held March 25-27 next year, with the gathering of banking and investment leaders coming to a close a day before the three-day Sevens kicks off on March 28.
The summit will be just one of a bulky roster of events aimed at the corporate world with executives flying in to Hong Kong for conferences and meetings of a serious tone – followed by sporting revery at the 50,000-seater Kai Tak Stadium, where the Hong Sevens will be held for the first time.
Backgrounder… Historic HK Sevens takes centre stage
It’s also a busy week for event planners in the city with conferences, dining, excursions and hospitality at the stadium’s corporate suites having to be organised.
Big names from the world of banking and investment are booked to speak at HSBC’s Global Investment Summit. European Central Bank president Mario Draghi and US technology investor Cathie Wood have been lined up along with Hong Kong government Chief Executive John Lee, BlackRock boss Robert Fairbairn, and Joe Tsai, who heads Alibaba Group Holding.
More… It’s official: Kai Tak new Sevens’ home
HSBC expects 3,000 delegates from all over the world – some with Sevens tickets – to attend the summit.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s emergency, transport and government services have been participating in a series of “stress tests” at Kai Tak Stadium to rehearse for the tens of thousands expected to descend and exit from the Kowloon City area where the stadium is located. The Rugby Sevens will be followed in April by concerts starring the British stadium-rock band, Coldplay.
