New World Harbour Race 2017 A Return to the Historical Route – 2,940 Swimmers Completed Race at Victoria Harbour
(29 October 2017, Hong Kong) To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, New World Development Company Limited (“New World Group”) and the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association (“HKASA”) hosted the annual sporting event – New World Harbour Race 2017 – at Victoria Harbour today. Echoing the legendary cross-harbour race route of 40 years ago, the new route for this year stretches from Tsim Sha Tsui Public Pier to Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier at Wan Chai, allowing both international and local swimmers to enjoy the internationally renowned Victoria Harbour skyline. Since the relaunch of the New World Harbour Race, participation rates have been increasing year on year, and this year the races have attracted swimmers from 2,940 different countries and regions to swim across the Victoria Harbour. Some of the swimmers who took part in the event 40 years ago will be participating again in the Harbour Race, revisiting the scenes of yesteryear. To further enhance the atmosphere amongst the thousands of spectators who came to enjoy the event, at the Wan Chai Golden Bauhinia Square, the organiser arranged a carnival with game booths and distribution of event souvenirs.
The 1000-metre New World Harbour Race 2017 kicked off at Tsim Sha Tsui Public Pier, and finished at Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wan Chai. To mark the official opening of the racing groups at 8.30am today, the gun-firing ceremony was officiated by The Honourable Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr. Wong Kam-Sing, Secretary for the Environment; Mr. Adrian Cheng Chi-Kong, Executive Vice-chairman and General Manager of New World Development Company Limited; Ms. Leonie Ki Man-Fung, Executive Director of New World Development Company Limited; and Mr. Ronnie Wong, President of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association.
One of the highlight of the races was the International Category. After a morning of intense competitions, the trophies for the International Category Individual Men & Women went to Poon Ching Leung Sunny and Wong Ching Lam Athena who clocked 11:18.5 and 11:45.1 respectively. Local swimmers Sin Chin Ting Keith and Lam Pac Tung Nikita were declared the male and female champions in the Open (A) Aged 17-34 Individual Category, with times of 11:00.0 and 11:45.6 respectively.
Mr. Ronnie Wong, President of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, said, “This year is the seventh celebration of the New World Harbour Race since its relaunch. I would like to thank every organisation that has supported us for all these years. The Race has been awarded the “M” Mark for the sixth consecutive year and endorsed as one of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. For this year’s race, we have returned to the signature route of 40 years ago, allowing swimmers to reminisce and enjoy swimming across the Victoria Harbour”. Once again, the organiser has invited swimmers from different sectors of society to compete in the race, including Mr. Daniel Lee, Ms. Stephanie Au, Ms. Yvette Kong, Mr. Kenneth To, Ms. Michelle Wai, Mr. Brian Wong and others. To promote the spirit of perseverance characteristics of Hong Kong people, it is hoped that more and more swimmers will participate in the future.
As the title sponsor of New World Harbour Race 2017, Mr. Adrian Cheng, the Executive Vice-chairman and General Manager of New World Development Company Limited, said, “New World Group is truly honoured to have been the title sponsor of the New World Harbour Race for the seventh consecutive year, and in collaboration with the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, we are hoping to contribute our part for the development of sports in Hong Kong. We have chosen ‘Artisan Action’, as the theme for this year’s Harbour Race, expressing the artisan-like focus and perseverance of the swimmers, and their determination to keep improving. This theme corresponds with New World Group’s brand personality, ‘The Artisanal Movement’. I would also like to mention the 17 young swimmers of the New World Springboard who competed in the K11 Harbour Race Youth Category, and I am very pleased to see them complete the race with such energy, enthusiasm and encouraging results”.
In the K11 Harbour Race Youth Category Aged 12-16 Individual, Thorley William Yan and Wong Cho Ying won the race by clocking 11:19.4 and 11:28.9 respectively. Champions of the Open (B) Aged 35-49 Individual, Liljestroem Lennart Peter Fredric and MacDonald Elizabeth Anne, clinched the top titles with times of 11:52.0 and 15:21.2, while in the Open (C) Aged 50 or Above Individual, Wray Martin Lawrence and McCarroll Jessica Lee Temple, who finished in 14:00.8 and 15:33.0, took the trophies. In the School Category, the male and female champions were Tak Sun Secondary and Diocesan Girls' School. In the New World Harbour Race Invitation Cup, Kong Chun Yin and Wong Yee Ching, representatives of Hong Kong Fire Services Department, managed to complete the race as champions by clocking 13:21.3 and 16:24.7 respectively.
In this year’s race, the oldest swimmer was aged 75, and the youngest swimmer aged 12. Full results of the race will be uploaded to the New World Harbour Race website at https://www.hkharbourrace.com/?lang=hk.