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Club supports Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, setting new model of co-operation between Hong Kong and Guangdong

16/09/2010


The Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (GAGOC) signed two agreements today (16 September) that formalise the Club’s contributions to supporting the equestrian competitions of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou. 

The two documents – a "Memorandum of Understanding between the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on the Asian Games Equestrian Events Technical Support" and a "Donation Agreement of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee" - were signed at a ceremony in Guangzhou by the Club's Executive Director of Corporate Affairs Kim Mak and Vice Secretary of Guangzhou Municipal Government Gu Shiyang, who is also Deputy Secretary of GACOG. 

Witnesses to the signing were Mayor of Guangzhou Wan Qingliang, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress, Tao Ziji, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Xu Ruisheng and the Club's Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.  Other guests included Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government Xie Xiaodan; Deputy Secretaries of GACOG Tian Xinde and Liu Jangnan; and Vice Mayor of Conghua Liang Jianqian. 

Today's signing ceremony follows an initial co-operation agreement between the Club and GAGOC signed on 2 December 2009, namely a "Memorandum of Understanding between the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee, the Guangzhou Municipal Government and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on the Asian Games Equestrian Events Venue Construction, Technical Support and Post-Asian Games Utilisation".  This set out the terms under which the Club would build the equestrian venues for the Games at Conghua and later convert them to horse training facilities. 

The new MoU is a Technical Services Agreement that embodies how the Club will use its horse racing expertise and Olympic experience to support GACOG in the equine-related areas of the Asian Games equestrian events.  Under this agreement, the Club is providing management expertise, specialised equipment and professional services in the areas of horse movement, stables management, equine medical care and competition facility management.  

In addition, under the Donation Agreement, the Club has committed to donate RMB30 million to GAGOC to drive and perfect the equestrian competitions of the Games.  

Construction of the Conghua venue has already been completed and starting today, it will host its debut event, the "Energetic Guangzhou" – Equestrian Invitation Competition.  In preparation for this three-day event, 18 horses were safely transported from Sha Tin Racecourse to Conghua on 10 September, marking the successful implementation of an internationally-recognised Specific Equine Disease-free Zone (SEDFZ) running the whole way from Hong Kong to Conghua. 

The SEDFZ, the first on the Chinese Mainland, has been put into operation within a very short time thanks to the close co-operation of the Ministry of Agriculture of the PRC, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the HKSAR and the Club.   

Speaking at today's ceremony, Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said that in addition to co-operating on quarantine measures, the Club had dedicated a number of senior mangers and specialists to join the organising team.  "On the one hand, this will allow them to transfer their knowledge to their counterparts in Guangzhou and Conghua; on the other, the Club can learn from its partners how things are done on the Mainland and close any gap in work practices," he commented.  "This will better prepare the Club for converting the equestrian training facilities to a racehorse training centre after the Games." 

This would create a valuable post-Games legacy, he added, as it would strengthen Pan-Pearl River Delta co-operation and serve as a platform for longer-term sustainable development of Guangzhou, Conghua and Hong Kong. 

"The Training Centre will be closely co-ordinated with our operations in Sha Tin and therefore the key will be efficient quarantine and horse movement to make Conghua and Sha Tin one and the same integrated operation," he commented.  "We look forward to working with the Guangzhou Municipal Government and GACOC to develop from the Asian Games simple, effective work practices." 

As well as further extending co-operation between the Club and GAGOC, today's signing of these two new agreements exemplifies the implementation of pilot economic policies in Guangdong.  It provides new impetus to the development of Hong Kong and Guangdong and enhances the level of co-operation between them while strengthening the competitiveness of both, thus creating a win-win situation.  The project serves as a model for the Pan-PRD Regional Co-operation Framework Agreement and helps promote the prosperity of the two areas, as well as improving the livelihood of their people. 

In recognition of the Club's support, GAGOC has honoured the Club with the title of "Outstanding Contributor, 16th Asian Games Equestrian Events".

Photo 1 and photo 2: Witnessed by (back row) Mayor of Guangzhou Wan Qingliang (6th from left), Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress, Tao Ziji (5th from left), Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Xu Ruisheng (4th from left), Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government Xie Xiaodan (3rd from left), Deputy Secretaries of GACOG Liu Jangnan (2nd from left), Vice Mayor of Conghua Liang Jianqian (1st from left), Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (6th from right), Executive Director of Racing William A. Nader (5th from right), Executive Director of Finance Paulus Lee (4th from right), Executive Director of Membership Services Billy Chen (3rd from right), Director of Property Michael J Moir (2nd from right), and Director of Racing Operations John Ridley (1st from right), the
Photo 1:
Photo 1 and photo 2: Witnessed by (back row) Mayor of Guangzhou Wan Qingliang (6th from left), Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress, Tao Ziji (5th from left), Vice Mayor of Guangzhou Xu Ruisheng (4th from left), Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government Xie Xiaodan (3rd from left), Deputy Secretaries of GACOG Liu Jangnan (2nd from left), Vice Mayor of Conghua Liang Jianqian (1st from left), Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (6th from right), Executive Director of Racing William A. Nader (5th from right), Executive Director of Finance Paulus Lee (4th from right), Executive Director of Membership Services Billy Chen (3rd from right), Director of Property Michael J Moir (2nd from right), and Director of Racing Operations John Ridley (1st from right), the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Guangzhou Asian Organizing Committee and The Hong Kong Jockey Club on the Asian Games Equestrian Events Technical Support" and the "Donation Agreement of the Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee" are signed at a ceremony in Guangzhou by (Front row) the Club's Executive Director of Corporate Affairs Kim Mak (right) and Vice Secretary of Guangzhou Municipal Government Gu Shiyang (left), who is also Deputy Secretary of GACOG.


Photo 2

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says that this co-corporation between Guangdong and Hong Kong will strengthen Pan-Pearl River Delta co-operation and serve as a platform for longer-term sustainable development of Guangzhou, Conghua and Hong Kong.
Photo 3:
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges says that this co-corporation between Guangdong and Hong Kong will strengthen Pan-Pearl River Delta co-operation and serve as a platform for longer-term sustainable development of Guangzhou, Conghua and Hong Kong.

Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) presents a souvenir to Mayor of Guangzhou Wan Qingliang (left).
Photo 4:
Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (right) presents a souvenir to Mayor of Guangzhou Wan Qingliang (left).

 

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