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The committee that will make policy decisions and give directions for the organisation and staging of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events held its first meeting today (October 5).
The Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad comprises major stakeholders and senior Government officials (the Equestrian Committee). The Chief Executive is the Patron while the Chief Secretary for Administration is the president. The Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) also has a representative sitting as a Vice-President on the Equestrian Committee.
Chief Secretary for Administration Mr Rafael Hui, who chaired the meeting, said he was pleased with the progress made in today¡¦s discussions. ¡§The task of delivering the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events begins today. It will be a major job, building quality venues and providing the support infrastructure in the right way at the right time. But the continuous efforts and support from different parties and major stakeholders will ensure that we meet our targets,¡¨ he said.
The meeting has confirmed the terms of reference for the Equestrian Committee and agreed to set up an executive body ¡V Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company Limited. The executive body will be in the form of a limited company registered under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32). An open exercise will be conducted to recruit the Chief Executive Officer of the company.
The Equestrian Committee also endorsed in principle to further study the proposal of setting up a trust fund to promote community participation for the Equestrian Events.
The Equestrian Committee was formed after the announcement on July 8 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to accept the proposal of the BOCOG to relocate the equestrian events to Hong Kong.
The Equestrian Committee will meet regularly to make policy decisions and give directions for the organisation and staging of the events. It will continue its close co-operation with related bodies, including the BOCOG, the IOC and the Federation Equestre Internationale, to ensure the success of the Events in Hong Kong.
Following is the membership list of the Equestrian Committee:
Patron:
Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government ¡V The Hon Donald Tsang
President:
Chief Secretary for Administration, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government ¡V The Hon Rafael Hui
Vice-Presidents:
- President, Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China ¡V The Hon Timothy Fok
- Executive Vice-President, Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad ¡V Mr Yang Shu¡¦an
- Chairman, Hong Kong Jockey Club ¡V Mr Ronald Arculli
Executive Vice-President:
Secretary for Home Affairs ¡V Dr The Hon Patrick Ho
Members:
- Captain, Hong Kong Golf Club ¡V The Hon Mr Justice William Stone
- Chairman, Hong Kong Sports Institute ¡V Mr Eric Li
- Chairman, Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled ¡V Mrs Jenny Fung
- Honorary Secretary General, Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China ¡V Mr Pang Chung
- Representative of Hong Kong Equestrian Federation ¡V Mr Michael T H Lee
- Secretary for Justice or representative
- Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food ¡V Dr The Hon York Chow
- Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs ¡V Ms Shelley Lee
- Director of Information Services ¡V Ms Yvonne Choi
- Chief Executive Officer, Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company Limited (to be established)
Secretary:
Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs ¡V Mr Thomas Tso
The Terms of Reference are as follows:
(a) To make policy decisions and give directions for the organisation and staging of the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events (the Events); and
(b) To communicate with and report progress to the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in relation to the organisation of the Events.
Ends/Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:29
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