CHIEF SECRETARY IMPRESSED BY WORLD-CLASS OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN VENUE

4 March 2008

HKSAR Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang, together with the Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG), paid a visit to the Hong Kong Olympic Equestrian Venue (Sha Tin) on 4 March and was impressed by the world-class venue and facilities. With the venues in place, Hong Kong is ready for the Olympic Equestrian Events coming up in August!

The Club's chairman John Chan and Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges accompanied more than 20 members of the Equestrian Committee and Executive Vice-President of BOCOG Yang Shu'an. The group was shown around the Olympic stables, the main venue and the VIP lounge by the Club's Head of Racing Operations John Ridley. Mr Ridley also gave a briefing on how the Club has worked to ensure horse welfare through the provision of special amenities in the air-conditioned Olympic stabling complex. He also commented on the Club's use of recycled material to build the stables, demonstrating its commitment to the Beijing Green Olympics concept.

After the visit, Mr Tang acknowledged the Club's contribution in building an Olympic competition venue and facilities that met the highest international standards. The stabling facilities took all factors into account, including the safety of horses and the Hong Kong weather, allowing the Olympic horses to adapt to life in Hong Kong and perform at their best in the competition.

"Work is in full swing, with construction of the 18,000-seat spectator stands and increased stable capacity to handle up to 225 horses all due to be completed in about three months", Mr Tang said.

Representatives from a number of National Olympic Committees have come to Hong Kong to see the competition venues and related facilities and have expressed their satisfaction with Hong Kong's world-class facilities and supporting arrangements, according to Mr Tang. BOCOG's Executive Vice-President, Yang Shu'an, also had high praise for the venue.

The International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and experts from around the world had given a thumbs-up to the preparatory work done by Hong Kong in a workshop organised by the FEI in Lausanne, Switzerland in mid-February. "They believed that the Olympic equestrian events to be held here would be outstanding", Mr Tang added.

Equestrian Committee members on the venue visit included Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong, Secretary for Food and Health Dr York Chow, and the committee's Executive Vice-President, Secretary for Home Affairs, Tsang Tak-sing. With five months to go before start of the Olympic equestrian events, "the Equestrian Committee will conduct regular inspections on different aspects of our preparatory work to ensure that each and every aspect is geared up and ready for the Games," Mr Tang said after the visit.