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Have you ever thought of donating your table tennis bats, tennis, badminton and squash rackets for a charity sale? The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is now appealing to members of the public to show their support by donating their rackets for the "Charity Sale of Second-hand Rackets" to be held on November 24 at Kowloon Park.

The "Charity Sale of Second-hand Rackets" is jointly organised by the LCSD, the Agency for Volunteer Service, the Hong Kong Badminton Association, the Hong Kong Squash, the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association and the Hong Kong Tennis Association.

At the press conference held today (October 16), the Deputy Director (Leisure Services) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Ho Wing-him, said, "The donation campaign is aimed at promoting the sport-for-all concept as well as encouraging the general public to re-cycle the rackets they no longer use."

"All the revenue generated will be donated to the Community Chest of Hong Kong for charity purpose to help the needy."

"By participating in the exercise, sports-lovers not only can share the fun with other people, they can also make good use of the resources showing their support for environmental protection. The society as a whole will benefit," Mr Ho added.

Prior to the charity sale, the LCSD will first collect rackets/bats of the four most popular sports namely table tennis bats, tennis, badminton and squash rackets.

Donors are welcome to take their rackets/bats to LCSD's 100-odd booking offices of Sports/Leisure Centres, Table Tennis Centres/Courts, Tennis Centres/Courts and Squash Centres/Courts starting October 17 (tomorrow) until November 14, 2002.

The Bronze Medal Winner of the 14th Asian Games Busan 2002 Ladies' Badminton Team, Ms Ling Wan-ting; the Hong Kong Men's Top Squash Player No.2, Mr Wong Wai-hang; as well as Mr Brian Hung and Mr Yu Hiu-tung who are currently ranked No.1 and No.2 respectively among all under 18 Junior Tennis Players in Hong Kong have shown their support to the charity sale by donating their own rackets at the press conference today.

The donated rackets/bats will be put on sale on November 24 from 11 am to 6 pm at the Foyer of Kowloon Park Swimming Pool Spectator Stand.

Other Hong Kong sport stars making the donation appeal at today's press conference included the Bronze Medal Winner of the 14th Asian Games Busan 2002 Ladies' Badminton Team, Ms Siu Ching-man, and the members of the Hong Kong Table Tennis Team at the Asian Games Mr Li Ching and Mr Ko Lai-chak.

Representatives from other co-organisers including the Board Member of the Agency for Volunteer Service, Dr Shum Chi-wang; the Chairman of Hong Kong Table Tennis Association, Mr Tony Yue Kwok-leung; the President of Hong Kong Tennis Association, Mr Kenneth Tsui; Vice President of the Hong Kong Badminton Association, Mr Tong Wai-lun; and the Executive Director of Hong Kong Squash, Mrs Heather Deayton were also present at the press conference.

End/Wednesday, October 16, 2002

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