Empowering ‘Happy Waves for All’
(Hong Kong, 23 October 2022) New World Harbour Race 2022, the annual sports extravaganza title sponsored by New World Development Company Limited (“New World Development”) and organised by Hong Kong China Swimming Association (HKGSA), was successfully held in Victoria Harbour today.
1,203 swimmers started from the Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wan Chai and completed the 1-km distance swim across the harbour to the finish at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui. The Race is the first large-scale outdoor public-engaged event sports event following the fifth wave of the epidemic. After the race, swimmers took photos sharing their joy and cheering along the Avenue of Stars echoing the theme of “Empower Happy Waves for All”.
The gun-firing ceremony was officiated by Mr. Kevin Yeung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR, Hon. Kenneth Fok, Member of Legislative Council, and the Executive Directors of New World Development Mr. Eric Ma, Mr. Sitt Nam Hoi, and Ms. Jenny Chiu joined Mr. Ronnie Wong, President of HKGSA, marking the official opening of the New World Harbour Race at 7:05am in the morning.
This year’s race was staged by way of a rolling-start of five groups. The spotlight was on the Racing Group of 100 swimmers that took to the water first. After a morning of intense competition, Kwok Chun Hei and Wong Ching Lam Athena clocked 14’25.6 and 15’11.4 respectively, triumphing in the Men’s and the Women’s Racing Group. Li Edmil Kong Fei, the young swimmer at his 15 was declared the champion in the New World Springboard Championship, with a time of 19’45.5.
Full results of the race will be uploaded to the New World Harbour Race website (https://www.hkharbourrace.com/).HKGSA: Our gratitude to the Government Departments and Organisations; NWD: Pleased to Witness the Excitement Shared by the Public
“As a much regarded annual sports extravaganza, the New World Harbour Race provides swimmers with a unique opportunity to take a competitive dip in the Harbour. We would like to express our gratitude to the relevant government departments and organisations for their cooperation and to New World Development for their unremitting support, without which we would not be able to make the New World Harbour Race a success. Despite the challenges presented by the recent epidemic,” said President of HKGSA Mr Ronnie Wong. “It is our wish that this unique Hong Kong-style race offers an opportunity for people all over the city to experience and enjoy the vitality of swimming, and for overseas swimmers to come and join, in helping further promote swimming culture in the local community.”
Mr Sitt Nam-Hoi, Executive Director of New World Development, said, “It is inspiring to see this Race being be held successfully, for the second time, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. The smiling faces of swimmers has inspired the Hong Kong public, reflecting the theme of this year’s race – ‘Empowering Happy Waves for All‘. By co-hosting the Race with HKGSA, the Group hopes to not only support the local sports development, but also to promote a positive vibe and a healthy lifestyle in the Hong Kong society.”
Back from Retirement – Kevin Chu Becomes First-ever Race Ambassador to Join the Racing Group
This year’s race also features Siobhan Haughey, double silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, and former member of Hong Kong Swimming Team Kevin Chu, as event ambassador. And it is the first time for that Kevin Chu has participated in swimming race since his retirement and was ready to make waves in the Racing Group. As the first-ever Event Ambassador joining the Racing Group, he achieved a time of 17’12.4.
– Ends –
High-res video are available: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PNgI9rQTbPZtpIxr6vglc_HUxpriPAS9?usp=sharing
Photo Caption:
Photo 1
Mr. Kevin Yeung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of HKSAR (third left), Hon. Kenneth Fok, Member of Legislative Council (first left), and the Executive Directors of New World Development Mr. Eric Ma (second left), Mr. Sitt Nam Hoi (second right), and Ms. Jenny Chiu (first left) joined Mr. Ronnie Wong, President of HKGSA (third right), to officiate the gun-firing ceremony at 7:05 in the morning and mark the official opening of the New World Harbour Race.
Photo 2
Kwok Chun Hei and Wong Ching Lam Athena clocked 14’25.6 and 15’11.4 respectively, triumphing in the Men’s and the Women’s Racing Group.
Photo 3
The 15-year-old swimmer Li Edmil Kong Fei (centre) brought home gold in the New World Springboard Championship, with a time of 19’45.5. Yip Wai Faat (right) and Chan Chun Hei (left) claimed the 1st Runner Up and the 2nd Runner Up respectively.
Photo 4
Kevin Chu, the former member of Hong Kong Swimming Team joined the Racing Group as the event ambassador and achieved a time of 17’12.4.
Photo 5
The event ambassador – Kevin Chu (left) – was joined by former members of Hong Kong Swimming Team Claudia Lau (centre) and Jamie Yeung (right) to attend the Racing Group and cheer up swimmers at the venue.
Photo 6
1,203 swimmers plunged into the water in batches and swam from the Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier in Wan Chai to the finish at the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Photo 7
The Race is the first large-scale outdoor public-engaged event sports event following the fifth wave of the epidemic.
New World Harbour Race 2022 Winners List
New World Harbour Race Racing Group Men’s Individual| Position | Name | Time |
| Champion | Kwok Chun Hei | 14:25.6 |
| 1st Runner Up | Sum Ka Lok Leo | 14:28.5 |
| 2nd Runner Up | Chan Tsun Hin | 14:30.1 |
| 4th Place | Lai King Wo Barry | 14:34.8 |
| 5th Place | Kwong Jacob Yat Nam | 14.36.2 |
New World Harbour Race Racing Group Women’s Individual
| Position | Name | Time |
| Champion | Wong Ching Lam Athena | 15:11.4 |
| 1st Runner Up | Lam Cheuk Ue Natalie | 15:13.7 |
| 2nd Runner Up | Tung Sze Mang | 15:17.1 |
| 4th Place | Chan Lok Mei | 15:19.2 |
| 5th Place | Wong Hoi Wai | 15:26.8 |
New World Harbour Race New World Springboard Category
| Position | Name | Time |
| Champion | Li Edmil Kong Fei | 19:45.5 |
| 1st Runner Up | Yip Wai Faat | 20:51.1 |
| 2nd Runner Up | Chan Chun Hei | 21:07.1 |
About New World Development
Founded in 1970, New World Development Company Limited (“The Group”, Hong Kong stock code: 0017) was publicly listed in Hong Kong in 1972 and is a constituent stock of the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index. A premium brand infused with a unique personality best defined by The Artisanal Movement, New World Group’s core business areas include property development, property investment, road, aviation, construction and insurance. Its operations in Greater China, especially the Greater Bay Area, had a total asset value of approximately HK$635.9 billion as at 30 June 2022. The Group has an effective interest of approximately 61% in NWS Holdings Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 0659) and approximately 75% in New World Department Store China Limited (Hong Kong stock code: 0825) and wholly owns New World China Land Limited.
About Hong Kong China Swimming Association
Hong Kong China Swimming Association (“HKGSA”) was founded in early 1951 by the President, Mr. A. de O. Sales, and it took part for the first time in the Olympic Games in Helsinki 1952 with four swimmers. It was subsequently registered under the Societies Ordinance on 28th April 1960. It is a member of the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA), Asian Swimming Federation (AASF) and Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF & OC). It is the sole governing body of swimming sports in Hong Kong covering all swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming and masters competitions and activities here. HKGSA will comply with Olympic Charter, the rules and regulations of the International Olympic Committee, SF & OC, FINA and AASF
In the past 70 years, the Association has been promoting and developing swimming sports, thus raising the standard of swimming, nurturing elite swimmers and providing training to athletes, officials, judges and coaches in Hong Kong through organizing different competitions, training courses and relevant teaching activities. The Association now has over 120 affiliated clubs with over 10,000 registered athletes, offering all properly accredited persons the opportunity to represent Hong Kong in a wide range of competitions and meetings here and abroad.
(This press release is issued by ActionHouse International on behalf of the Hong Kong China Swimming Association and New World Development Company Limited.)
For further information, please contact:
ActionHouse International Limited| Karl Cheung Tel: 3102 8107 / 6799 5338 Email:karlcheung@actionhouseintl.com |
Carmen So Tel: 3102 2778 / 6026 0147 Email:cso@actionhouseintl.com |