‘Anti-scalping rule for sports venues may not work’

DAB lawmaker Frankie Ngan on Friday cast doubt on a new policy against scalping in relation to public sports facilities, saying it could even make the problem worse.

Under new rules that will come into force on May 1, a person who books a government recreation or sports facility must be present during the booked session.

Authorities will conduct spot checks, and anyone who flouts the rule twice in a month will be banned from booking paid facilities for 90 days.

But speaking a day after the measure was announced, Ngan told an RTHK show that people could easily get around the rules and sell the slots they book at an even higher price.

“They can employ someone to book the sports centres and stay there, and they can sell the booking to a player. They need to pay a higher cost for employing the one who is booking the sports centre,” he said.

Ngan said people should be punished the first time they violate the rule, and authorities should check every booked session – instead of just doing spot checks.

He added that the crux of the problem is the shortage of public sports facilities, and the government can do more to increase supply in the short-term.

“The government should borrow community centres and sports facilities from secondary schools, then in a short period, they can increase the sports facilities immediately,” he said.

Ngan also urged the government to look at whether some sports venues currently being used for anti-Covid purposes could be converted back.