Hong Kong – New round of improvement steps and application plans for “M” Mark System

The Government revealed today (August 24) a brand-new round of improvement steps of the “M” Mark System and its execution plans.

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the Major Sports Events Committee (MSEC) have actually examined and concluded the experiences and result of the improvement determines executed in April 2023, and revealed steps to even more improve “M” Mark System. By improving the vetting requirements and moneying system, the brand-new round of refined procedures intends to optimise using resources and increase the advantages of federal government financing. At the exact same time, it guarantees the quality and beauty of “M” Mark occasions, enhances occasions’ attract viewers and visitors in addition to boosts financial advantages.

The information of the brand-new round of improvement steps of the “M” Mark System are as follows:

(1) Adjusting the vetting requirements to offer financing assistance in accordance with the vetting outcome of private occasions

• The vetting requirements will be fine-tuned to much better show the significance of sports advancement contribution for “major sports events”; and the value of tourist promo and regional economy effect for “exhibition matches/tournaments”;
• Under the fine-tuned vetting requirements, “major sports events” that have substantial advantages on tourist promo and the regional economy, depending upon the scenarios, might likewise use as “exhibition matches/tournaments”;
• The overall financing ceiling for each occasion (i.e. direct grant and matching fund) will vary from $6 million to $15 million based upon the vetting outcome as evaluated versus the fine-tuned vetting requirements for more reliable resources allotment. Simply put, not every authorized application will get the optimum financing of $15 million (consisting of direct grant and matching fund);
• To motivate organisers to slowly increase the quantity of personal sponsorship looked for, the direct grants for brand-new “major sports events” will be offered on a moving scale from the optimal quantities of $6 million (very first year), $5 million (2nd year) to $4 million (3rd year) so regarding promote the advancement of sports as a market; and
• The ceiling of the location working with grant for “M” Mark occasions will be increased from $1 million to $3 million for non-Leisure and Cultural Services Department places or Hong Kong Stadium on a pilot basis so regarding support the requirement to phase mega sports occasions at various locations.

(2) Adjusting choice requirements

• To embrace a tactical technique and check out long-lasting collaboration (i.e. more than one year) with sports occasions which have the ability to bring substantial financial advantages to Hong Kong.

(a) “Major sports events”

• The “M” Mark System will concentrate on supporting first-rate “major sports events” (i.e. open competitors instead of age group-specific occasions) to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of federal government financing; and
• Financing assistance will just be supplied to one occasion of higher-level annually for a series of championships/tournaments arranged to make sure the variety of the “M” Mark occasion calendar.

(b) “Exhibition matches/tournaments”

• The MSEC will embrace a repaired application cycle for accepting and processing applications for “exhibition matches/tournaments”Applications got within the very same application cycle (i.e. 6 months) will be processed and thought about together based upon their benefits (such as the appearance of taking part athletes/teams and financial advantages). Under regular scenarios, the MSEC will pick an optimum of 3 “exhibition matches/tournaments” in the exact same cycle to prevent several occasions arranged in the exact same duration and thus minimizing their financial practicality and advantages. The MSEC needs organisers to send applications within the exact same cycle, motivating them to prepare completely ahead of time. This method likewise enables the MSEC to think about all applications gotten in the very same cycle in one go so regarding choose the most rewarding occasions and choose the matching level of moneying assistance; and
• The application cycles and due dates for “exhibition matches/tournaments” are as follows:

Keep in mind: For “exhibition matches/tournaments” kept in the very first half of 2026 (i.e. January 1 to June 30, 2026), the application due date will be reached September 30, 2025 as an unique transitional plan.

(3) Enhancing vetting treatments and application requirements

• Candidates need to send their applications a minimum of 6 months prior to the hosting or statement of the “M” Mark occasion (e.g. holding an interview). This motivates organisers to prepare completely and make sure much better marketing efficiency for “M” Mark occasions.

(4) Strengthening tracking and reporting systems

• After finalizing of the Terms and Conditions for moneying assistance and supplying documents/proof showing the quantity of money sponsorship protected, organisers might get an optimum of 50 percent of the qualified matching fund before the occasions are held;
• CSTB will continue the existing practice to perform checks (consisting of on-site assessment) with regard to the material of the Terms and Conditions for moneying assistance and products in the assessment report to keep track of and assess the occasions. Ought to organisers stop working to hold the occasions in accordance with their propositions (consisting of gamer(s) line up, variety of viewers, sports advancement strategies, marketing and promo strategies) or stop working to fulfill the crucial efficiency indications (consisting of tourist promo and financial effect), the MSEC will examine the real results of the occasions and might change the last quantity of moneying assistance; and
• Organisers are needed to designate an independent expert representative to perform exit study with individuals (consisting of visitors) and send reports so regarding examine the efficiency of the occasions (consisting of presence and financial advantages) better.

The above improvement procedures will use to all applications gotten after September 15, 2025. For information of the “M” Mark occasions and the most recent application standards, please see www.mevents.org.hk/en/application.php.

The “M” Mark System was developed in 2004, which intends to motivate and assist regional National Sports Associations and personal or non-government organisations to arrange more significant worldwide sports occasions and support them into sustainable endeavors. Sports occasions fulfilling the evaluation requirements will be thought about for “M” Mark status by the MSEC. Financing assistance will likewise be supplied to some occasions. The “M” Mark System is to promote the advancement of significant sports occasions, impart a sustainable sporting culture, boost Hong Kong’s image as a centre for significant worldwide sports occasions and bring concrete financial advantages to our neighborhood.