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The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Carrie Yau, arrived in Wuhan this afternoon (October 24) to support Hong Kong athletes taking part in the 6th National Cities Games of the People's Republic of China.
A total of 107 Hong Kong athletes are competing in 15 events of the Games - swimming, judo, fencing, windsurfing, athletics, gymnastics, canoeing, wushu, shooting, cycling, taekwondo, table tennis, badminton, tennis and volleyball.
"The 6th National Cities Games is indeed a timely opportunity for Hong Kong's young athletes to exchange skills with athletes from different Mainland cities and provinces before the 2008 Beijing Olympics," Mrs Yau said.
"I am confident that the Hong Kong athletes will do their best in the Games," Mrs Yau said.
As of yesterday (October 23), the Hong Kong delegation had won one gold medal in cycling.
In Wuhan today, Mrs Yau visited Hong Kong fencing team members. She will attend the table tennis competitions tomorrow and the opening of the Games at the Wuhan Sports Centre in the evening.
Accompanying Mrs Yau on the trip to Wuhan is the Deputy Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Leisure Services), Mr Vincent Liu.
The National Cities Games are held every four years to promote sports development in cities all over China and to identify more young sports talent for the Chinese national teams. A total of 76 units, mainly cities, are taking part in the 6th National Cities Games.
This year's Games are the major national multi-sports event to be held on the Mainland before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
In the 5th National Games in Changsha, Hunan Province, in 2003, the Hong Kong delegation won two gold medals and one bronze in cycling, tennis and windsurfing.
Ends/Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:38
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