News

Hong Kong's best-ever results in the Paralympic Games have been recognised with a record HK$962,000 in cash awards going towards our disabled heroes and heroines for their hard work in the recently concluded Athens Games.

Hong Kong collected a total of 19 medals (11 gold, seven silver and one bronze) at the Games, the best achievement since Hong Kong first took part in the Games in 1972. At the 2004 Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme awards presentation, 12 medallists received the cash awards for the 19 medals they brought home.

The Scheme is organised by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), sponsored by Hang Seng Bank, and fully supported by the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) and the Hong Kong Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (HKSAP). Cash incentives have been offered under the Scheme to Hong Kong's athletes since 1996 to recognise their outstanding performance at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

At the awards presentation held at the Penthouse of Hang Seng Bank, Vincent Cheng, Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive of Hang Seng Bank, said: “The historic results achieved by the Hong Kong Paralympic athletes owe much to the perseverance and unfailing spirit of the athletes. They have set an excellent example for Hong Kong people. We at Hang Seng Bank are deeply impressed by the performance of our disabled athletes in Athens and are proud to be involved in a Scheme which recognises their hard work and achievements.”

Hong Kong's leading athlete at the Games was women's wheelchair fencer Yu Chui-yee, who captured a total of four gold medals in both the team and individual foil and epee events. She was awarded a total of HK$162,000. Hong Kong's fencers also dominated the event with eight gold medals. Yu's outstanding performance was followed by fellow fencer Chan Yui-chong, who took three gold and one silver medals. Women's fencer Fan Pui-shan also collected two gold and two silver medals. In the men's category, Hui Charn-hung and Fung Ying-ki won two gold and two silver medals and two gold and one silver medal respectively.

Yu said, “It has been a dream come true winning four gold medals at the Paralympic Games. The Games is the biggest event in disabled sports, and I am proud of winning for the people of Hong Kong. I would like to thank Hang Seng Bank for their support of disabled sports. We would not be here today for such a grand awards presentation without their generous contribution.”

In track and field, men's sprinter So Wa-wai achieved impressive results by clinching one gold and two silver medals. His victory in the 200 metres also set a new Paralympic Games record. So received a cash incentive of HK$118,000, including an additional award of HK$10,000 from Hang Seng Bank for setting a new Paralympic Games record.

Victor Hui, Chairman of the HKSI, was delighted with the support of Hang Seng Bank and the continuously improving performance of Hong Kong's athletes on the international stage.

He said, “The Athens event has been a successful one for Hong Kong sport, as we were able to win medals at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are pleased to receive the attention and support of the community for the development of elite sports and athletes. I would also like to thank Hang Seng Bank for their long-term support of the incentive awards scheme for our outstanding athletes. Their contribution sets a good example of how the corporate sector can help sport.”

Also present at the awards presentation ceremony were The Hon Timothy Fok, President of the SF&OC; Silas Chiang, Chef de Mission for Hong Kong's Paralympic delegation; and Patrick Ng, Honorary Secretary of the HKSAP.