The department continued to improve the operation of the Hong Kong Stadium through a series of repair and maintenance programmes. The pitch was upgraded to and maintained at the standard for staging international events. Its condition has won praise from local and visiting soccer and rugby players.

	China's National Team played in the finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The department arranged live broadcasts of games, free to the public.

Major improvements in the year included the slope stabilisation works. The stadium management also plans to install a visual fire alarm system and to replace the existing scoreboard.

A total of 27 events were staged at the stadium throughout the year, attracting an aggregate attendance of about 330,000. With the improved pitch, the stadium management is able to accommodate more use and accept bookings on a more flexible basis. Concessionary rentals, calculated on the basis of the actual operating expenses, are readily available to non-profit-making and charitable organisations for community events.

Although the prolonged economic downturn of recent years has, to some extent, affected the use and revenue of the stadium, the department is working on various options to maximise its use for staging diversified sports, entertainment and community events.