The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (August 10) presented the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) flag to the HKSAR Delegation to the 13th National Games of the People's Republic of China at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
 
     The Secretary for Home Affairs and Head of the HKSAR Delegation to the 13th National Games, Mr Lau Kong-wah, received the HKSAR flag from the Chief Executive.   
 
     The 13th National Games will be held in Tianjin between August 27 and September 8. Top-notch athletes from all over the country will compete for the highest honours in 33 major sports events.
 
     The HKSAR delegation, comprising 248 athletes and 102 officials and medical staff, will take part in 21 final competitions, namely swimming (swimming, water polo, synchronised swimming, marathon swimming), athletics (athletics, marathon), badminton, canoeing (sprint), cycling (track, road race and mountain bike), equestrian, fencing, golf, gymnastics (gymnastics and artistic gymnastics), handball, judo, sailing, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, beach volleyball, windsurfing, wushu (taolu) and roller hockey. This will be the sixth time for the HKSAR to participate in the National Games since 1997.
 
     Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lau said that the flag presentation ceremony was even more meaningful in the year of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. Noting that Hong Kong elite athletes had excelled in international mega sports events in recent years, he said he was confident that Hong Kong athletes would try their best and strive for excellence to win glory for Hong Kong in the 13th National Games. It will also be the best opportunity for Hong Kong athletes to prepare for next year's Asian Games, he added.
 
     Mr Lau also pointed out that the Government has all along been promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports development, and making Hong Kong a hub for major international sports events under its policy objectives. A total of $20 billion will be spent in the coming five years to launch 26 projects to develop new sports and recreation facilities and improve existing ones to encourage the public to do more exercise and to foster an enthusiasm for sports in the community, and the Government will continue to invest substantially to promote sport development.
 
     Other officiating guests attending the ceremony included the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the HKSAR Delegation, Mr Timothy Fok; the Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Honorary Adviser of the HKSAR Delegation, Mrs Betty Fung; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee of the HKSAR Delegation, Ms Michelle Li; and Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the HKSAR Delegation Mr Tony Yue.

Ends/Thursday, August 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:38

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