Separate fencing hall and pool in revised Northern Metropolis sports facilities plan

An aerial view of the Kwu Tung area in the Northern Metropolis.

Photo: May Tse A world-class fencing hall and stand-alone swimming complex will be built in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject, authorities have revealed, in a move that experts said must be accompanied by good transport and support services for elite athletes.

Sports industry experts raised their suggestions on Tuesday after the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) updated its plans to construct the swimming pool as a stand-alone facility to meet international specifications, while expanding a space for fencing in Kwu Tung North.

Wong Tsan, principal of the Hong Kong Fencing School, said the plan to develop a specialised permanent facility was a crucial first step to addressing the shortage of training facilities in the city. “The training classes held by the Fencing Association in public sports halls are restricted to only a few districts, and they operate on a ‘morning-install, evening-dismantle’ basis.

The time consumed by this process seriously affects the progress of training,” Wong told a radio programme. “Many of our current training sites also heavily rely on privately run clubs.

If we truly want to promote fencing to the general public, relying solely on them is not enough.” According to a department paper submitted to the North District Council, the government changed its original plans for the joint-user complex to prioritise international-standard sports facilities.

Instead of a multipurpose sports hall, the revised project will feature a large-scale venue designed specifically for fencing and suitable for hosting major global and local competitions while serving as a professional training base.

Instead of building a pool as part of the sports complex, the government will construct a stand-alone swimming complex that meets international standards elsewhere in Kwu Tung North, with an estimated capacity of 7,000 to 8,000 seats.

The site is located about a 10-minute walk from the future Kwu Tung MTR station, expected to open in 2027, while the new facilities will be completed in 2030 or 2031.

Wong said the city’s fencing prowess had reached new heights.

This was reflected by the achievements of Olympic champions Cheung Ka-long and Vivian Kong Man-wai, and by the two gold medals that Hong Kong fencers recently won at the World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships in Brazil. “If the government intends for the site to [also] function as a citywide trainin

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