Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (front row, center); deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lu Xinning (front row, fourth left); president of the China Basketball Association and the manager of Team China Yao Ming (front row, fourth right); Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung (front row, third left); Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Joe Wong (front row, third right); director of Leisure and Cultural Services Vincent Liu (front row, second left); and other guests pose for a group photo during a dinner to welcome the national men's basketball team playing home matches in Hong Kong, at Government House on Feb 26, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)
HONG KONG – Serving as a home venue for the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup had showcased three unique features of the city, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday.
Lee made the remarks during a dinner at Government House to welcome the national men's basketball team playing home matches in Hong Kong on Thursday. The nation beat Kazakhstan 71-59 in the sixth window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers in the Tsuen Wan Sports Centre.
It was the first time the city served as the home venue for the national team.
The chief executive said the matches demonstrated the city’s three advantages, including contributing to the country's rapid development by leveraging its advantages under the "one country, two systems" principle; hosting top-tier international mega events by seizing the country's strong support; and driving vibrant sports development through the demonstration of masterly skills by world-class athletes.
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In this photo taken from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's official Facebook page, Lee (right) receives a basketball as a gift from president of the China Basketball Association and the manager of Team China Yao Ming, during a dinner to welcome the national men's basketball team playing home matches in Hong Kong, at Government House on Feb 26, 2023.
This photo taken from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's official Facebook page shows a basketball with the national men's basketball team members' autographs.
These matches also provided residents in the city with an opportunity to enjoy the skills of world-class basketball players, as well as enhance locally the all-rounded development of sports, our sports culture and the atmosphere of exercising. They also helped lay solid foundations for Hong Kong to host the 15th National Games in 2025.
Lee showed his gratitude to the country for its trust and support in assigning Hong Kong as the home venue of the match this time.
He also expressed his hope that athletes of Team China would continue to perform strongly in the upcoming matches of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, wishing the team every success in the World Cup Finals and earn glory for the country.
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Apart from president of the China Basketball Association and the Manager of Team China Yao Ming; and members of Team China, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lu Xinning; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung; president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China Timothy Fok Tsun-ting; Secretary-General of the FIBA Andreas Zagklis; as well as other relevant officials and guests also attended the dinner.
In this photo released by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's official Facebook page, Lee (center) talks to members of the national men's basketball team during a dinner to welcome the team playing home matches in Hong Kong, at Government House on Feb 26, 2023.
In this photo taken from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's official Facebook page, president of the China Basketball Association and the manager of Team China Yao Ming delivers a speech during a dinner to welcome the national men's basketball team playing home matches in Hong Kong, at Government House on Feb 26, 2023.
In this photo released by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's official Facebook page, Lee (right) shakes hand with president of the China Basketball Association and the manager of Team China Yao Ming, during a dinner to welcome the national men's basketball team playing home matches in Hong Kong, at Government House on Feb 26, 2023.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (center); deputy director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Lu Xinning (third left); president of the China Basketball Association and the Manager of Team China Yao Ming (third right); Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung (second left); Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Joe Wong (second right); director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Vincent Liu (first left); and deputy director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services) Winnie Chui (first right) toast at the dinner at Government House on Feb 26, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)