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    Following is the opening remark by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, at the press conference today (July 8) on the staging of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong:

Introduction
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Today is an important milestone in Hong Kong's sports history. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has accepted the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG)'s proposal of staging the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in Hong Kong.

Equestrian events is one of the 28 games in the Summer Olympics. They are among the few games where both male and female athletes compete on equal terms.  Equestrian events consist of three disciplines: Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross-country eventing, producing altogether six sets of medals.

At the end of last year, BOCOG made preliminary contacts with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to explore the possibility of relocating the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events to Hong Kong because it considered that, after taking into consideration the well-being of horses, the quarantine situation and the supporting facilities, Hong Kong is a better place than Beijing to stage the Olympic equestrian events.

BOCOG has invited experts of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) to Beijing, examining and assessing the quarantine situation in relation to hosting the equestrian events in Beijing. Despite Beijing's enormous efforts in improving its quarantine situation, OIE experts still have reservations in Beijing's quarantine situation.  BOCOG thinks that the quarantine situation in other Mainland cities is not dissimilar to that in Beijing.

Hong Kong has in place world-class equine care facilities and medical services for horses, and a group of professionals in the equestrian events.  We also have recognised quarantine protocol arrangements with many countries.  BOCOG considers that staging the equestrian events in Hong Kong will better ensure the well-being of horses and the smooth running of the competitions.  After some preliminary discussions with the HKSARG, BOCOG then proposed to Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) and IOC to relocate the equestrian events to Hong Kong.

As regards the quarantine and welfare of horses, we will need the full support and cooperation with Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).  As HKJC has rich experience in handling the horse quarantine issues and import and export arrangements of horses, we approached them to examine issues in relation to staging the equestrian events including the competition venues and supporting facilities.

Venues
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Now, I would like to talk briefly about the competition venues here.

Apart from the competition arena, the venue for staging the Olympic equestrian events should also include enough stables to accommodate about 300 imported horses, a main arena with a seating capacity for 20 000 and different types of training grounds (sand, grass and indoor).  In addition, a quarantine area with sufficient quarantine stables, as well as training grounds for the horses is needed.

Generally speaking, we will need to temporarily convert Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and the Penfold Park into the core competition venues for dressage and show jumping.  We will also need to build horse stables, quarantine and supporting facilities and warm-up arenas.  As for the Cross-Country Eventing, it will be staged in a venue temporarily converted by using HKJC's Beas River Country Club and part of the adjacent Hong Kong Golf Club.

In view of these stringent requirements and standards set by the FEI and the fact that there are less than three years for preparation before the 2008 Olympics, we, after deliberations with our consultant, came to the conclusion that the only possible site would be Penford Park and the HKSI adjacent to the Sha Tin Racecourse.

Our considerations are as follows:

(1) The Sha Tin Racecourse is well equipped with core supporting facilities (such as an equine hospital, some quarantine stables, horse training grounds, laboratories, a feed storage area and a team of professional staff) which can provide efficient and cost-effective back-up services for the Olympic equestrian events.  This is the most important consideration for site selection and the fundamental reason for staging the equestrian events in the vicinity of such facilities.

(2) A substantial saving in the cost of staging the equestrian events can be achieved by pooling together the existing resources and facilities of the HKSI, Penfold Park and the Sha Tin Racecourse and by carrying out suitable conversion works to cater for the events.  The cost will be much lower than that of constructing a new venue.

(3) According to FEI's requirements, the required area for competition venues for dressage and show jumping is about 40 hectares.  The total area of HKSI and Penfold Park is about 39 hectares.  With the equine facilities in the nearby Sha Tin Racecourse, the HKSI and Penfold Park can provide enough space for the competitions.

Financial arrangement
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As regards the financial arrangements of the 2008 Olympic equestrian events, the event cost will be borne by the BOCOG, while the venue construction cost and all related expenses will be borne by the HKJC.

Temporary reprovisioning of HKSI
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HKSI will become the core venues for the equestrian events.  We understand totally the concerns of the sports sector, including that of the elite athletes.  We also fully understand the importance of having a stable environment for the athletes in order for them to focus on their training.  To deal with the temporary reprovisioning of HKSI, we will identify other training facilities and try our best to provide them with the best training facilities, venues and support.  We will discuss actively with the relevant national sports associations, head coaches, HKSI and athletes to find the best reprovisioning plan for the athletes.

As a whole, the facilities in HKSI for elite athletes can still be used until end of 2006.  According to our plan, the HKSI will have to be vacated temporarily for two years from early 2007 to the end of 2008 so that it can be converted into an arena for equestrian events.  After the events, all indoor facilities and most of the outdoor ones of the HKSI will be reinstated and suitably upgraded by HKJC before they are handed back to the HKSI for use.

In drawing up the HKSI reprovisioning plan, we have always kept in mind to provide the best and most suitable facilities and venues for the elite athletes.  We have met 13 elite national sports associations, the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Mentally Handicapped, and head coaches to further discuss our HKSI temporary reprovisioning plan, trying to understand their special training needs and requirements.  We had meetings with representatives of the Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association on June 27 to further discuss the reprovisioning plan.  And on July 4, a meeting has been arranged with Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, the Elite Sports Committee, HKSI Board of Directors, elite national sports associations, head coaches and Hong Kong Elite Athletes Association.  A task force has been set up to examine the development plan of HKSI and will submit its findings to the Sports Commission in six months.

Conclusion
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Hong Kong is proud to share the joy and glory of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first time the Games to be held on Chinese soil.  The relocation of the 2008 Olympic equestrian events will help arouse the community's interest in sports, enhancing Hong Kong's status as a hub for important sporting events, international equestrian centre and an Asian metropolitan. Hong Kong can also enjoy the economic benefits brought about by horse-lovers who come to Hong Kong for the equestrian events.

I would love to emphasis that while we are working hard to prepare for the 2008 Olympic equestrian events, we are also trying our best to ensure that our elite athletes will get the best training facilities, venues and support so that they can take part in major sporting events and get the best results for Hong Kong, in particular the 2008 Olympic Games.

Besides, the equestrian sport for the disabled in Hong Kong is well-established and is occupying a leading position in Asia.  After the 2008 Olympic equestrian events, the expertise and facilities will be improved.  By then, the equestrian sport for the disabled will be boosted further.

The 2008 Olympic equestrian events is a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for Hong Kong to showcase the world our charisma.  We have the passion to hold big international sporting events, and the vigor to receive guests from all around the world.  I believe Hong Kong people can make a good host and hope all of us can join hands to make this a quality and colourful event.

Ends/Friday, July 8, 2005
Issued at HKT 21:54

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