Hong Kong Sevens organisers said on Friday that they're hopeful of getting close to a capacity crowd despite the fact that only seventy percent of tickets have been sold three weeks ahead of the tournament's much-anticipated return.

Prior to the pandemic the sevens was one of the hottest tickets in town, with the passes available to the public typically snapped up in no time, but officials said on Friday that only 23,000 of this year's 34,000 three-day tickets were sold in the two weeks since they went on sale. The event takes place from November 4 to 6, with, capacity at the Hong Kong Stadium reduced to 85 percent.

However Robbie McRobbie, chief executive of the Hong Kong Rugby Union, said the sales figures were encouraging given that few spectators are likely to fly in from overseas under current Covid rules for inbound travellers, who would have to spend at least three days in the SAR before being allowed to enter the stadium.

"Even with the 'zero plus three' policy, overseas fans still face restrictions during the first three days when they're here, not being able to go to bars, restaurants. They wouldn't be able to go to the Hong Kong Sevens if they're on an amber code. Realistically, the overseas ticket sales will remain low until we go for 'zero plus zero'," he said.

"Normally for the Hong Kong Sevens, 50 percent of the spectators are from overseas. So realistically, we're not going to see a lot of overseas spectators in November. So far, we're pretty happy with the response from the local market and we believe that over the remaining three weeks to the event, we will still sell more tickets. There's a good chance that we will come close to filling the capacity of 34,000."

McRobbie said organisers were still hoping to see further relaxation of social distancing rules for the event, including allowing spectators to eat at the stadium, and had put several ideas to the government.

The administration had previously said that fans would be allowed to take their masks off only to drink, but rugby chiefs are hoping for changes after officials announced on Thursday that people visiting theme parks would be allowed to take their masks off to eat in outdoor areas of the attractions.

Meanwhile, Sports Commissioner Yeung Tak-keung on Friday said on a radio programme that he had expected fewer tickets would be sold compared with past events. He said that spectators should keep their masks on to minimise the risks of transmission.

The sevens last took place in April 2019.