Scheduled to be held at the 3,000 capacity Hong Kong Velodrome, between April 12 and 16, the event will be only the second time Asia has staged the Championships, despite them being held in almost every year since 1893.

Maebashi was the first Asian location to stage the event, with the Japanese city hosting in 1990.

“The fact that the event is going to Asia for the second time marks an important milestone in the further globalisation of track cycling,” said Brian Cookson, the UCI President.

“The UCI is already very much involved in the region with UCI World Cycling Satellites Centres in Japan, Republic of Korea and India.

“We are convinced that the continent has huge athlete, commercial and broadcast potential and we will work with all our stakeholders to ensure the impact of these Championships is felt long after 2017.”

The Velodrome held the final leg of this season’s UCI Track World Cup and is home to Lee Wai Sze, Hong Kong’s first Olympic cycling medallist who took bronze in the keirin at London 2012.

She later went on to win 500 metres time trial gold at the 2013 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Minsk, while she claimed silver in the discipline here at this year’s event in London.

"Hosting the UCI World Championships will further arouse interest in track cycling among the public and help identify talents for the team,” said Hung-Tak Leung, chairman of the Cycling Association of Hong Kong.

A flag handover ceremony between Britain and Hong Kong will take place tomorrow at the conclusion of the 2016 Championships here in London.

The UCI will pass the flag onto Hong Kong, following the conclusion of the men’s madison race.