Try the food: govt allows eating in HK Sevens stands
Hungry rugby fans heading to next month's Hong Kong Sevens will be allowed to dine as well as drink while enjoying the action, organisers confirmed on Friday after finalising arrangements with the government. The Hong Kong Rugby Union announced the move following discussions with the administration, which had previously indicated that only drinking would be allowed in the stands at the Hong Kong Stadium during the November 4 to 6 showpiece. "With three days of food, drink, music and plenty of thrilling sevens rugby on offer, the atmosphere inside the stadium is guaranteed,” said Robbie McRobbie, chief executive of the Hong Kong Rugby Union.  However spectators have been told they will have to take a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) before heading to the stadium, with those who fail to comply facing being turned away at the entrance.  "The attendee must mark the RAT test kit with their name and the date and time of taking the test," the union said in a statement. "They should take a photo of the test kit and save it in their mobile phone – this will then be checked by event staff at the entrance of the stadium daily." Ticket-holders must also use the vaccine pass and the LeaveHomeSafe app, and must put their masks on at all times when they are not eating or drinking. The union says "limited" tickets remain on sale for the Hong Kong Sevens, which will operate at 85 percent of the stadium's usual capacity this year. McRobbie said last week that organisers were still hopeful of getting close to a sell-out despite the fact that few overseas fans are expected to travel for the event. The last Hong Kong Sevens took place in April 2019.