HONG KONG, Sept 2: China said on Thursday it would consider allowing Hong Kong to host part of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Speaking at a press conference, Beijing Party Secretary Liu Qi said members of the International Olympic Committee and the Hong Kong government have repeatedly suggested that China should move part of the games to the former British colony.

"The central authorities understand the Hong Kong people are keen to take part in it ... the decision cannot be made by the Beijing Olympic Committee alone but this is not something that can't be pursued," Liu told reporters in Hong Kong, appearing along with the city's chief Tung Chee-hwa.

Liu, speaking at the conference to boost economic co-operation between Beijing and Hong Kong and promote the 2008 Olympics, declined to comment on which sports may be hosted.

Timothy Fok, president of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, said he was confident that Hong Kong's bid would succeed. Mainland China has been courting Hong Kong in recent weeks in the build-up to Legislative Council elections in which pro-democracy parties are expected to make big gains, with 50 Chinese Olympic gold-medallists visiting the territory next week.

The two-day forum, which started Thursday, is aimed at attracting Hong Kong investment in Beijing Olympics-related business deals valued at more than $10bn, including 130 construction projects. -AFP