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Hong Kong athletes are continuing to demonstrate excellent form on the world stage, with the local delegation returning from the 11^th Asian Para Games (APG) with 44 medals.  This year’s haul includes 10 golds – double the number achieved at the last APG in 2010.  In recognition of this outstanding performance, Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) and Hang Seng Bank today jointly presented the medallists with cash incentive awards totalling HK$1,579,500 through the Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme (Scheme).

Cash awards were presented to 43 Hong Kong medal winners representing nine sports.  This latest round of incentives boosts the total amount given to leading local athletes under the Scheme to over HK$43 million since 1996.

Officiating guests at today’s Presentation Ceremony included Mr Tsang Tak-sing GBS JP, Secretary for Home Affairs; Dr James Lam JP, Chairman of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee & Sports Association for the Physically Disabled; Mr Carlson Tong SBS JP, Chairman of the HKSI; and Mr Andrew Fung JP, Executive Director and Head of Global Banking and Markets of Hang Seng Bank.

Mr Tong highly commended the performance of Hong Kong athletes at the APG.  He said, “I would like to pay tribute to all members of the delegation who have showcased their excellence at the Games.  In face of strong competition from other Asian counterparts, Hong Kong athletes were able to double the number of gold medals, resulting in a total of 44 medals.  I am really impressed to see that we have such a talented delegation of athletes who have not only proved their sporting dominance, but also demonstrate this year’s team objective -- Dare To Dream.”

Mr Fung said, “These achievements are all the more remarkable as most of our athletes must juggle balancing rigorous training with the demands of their careers.  Elite parathletes such as fencer Tam Chik-sum and boccia player Yeung Hiu-lam – who are also ‘Hang Seng - Regeneration Society Top Ten Regeneration Warriors’ – serve as excellent role models through their passion and perseverance in working to excel in their chosen sports.  Tam clinched two gold medals in the fencing sabre individual and team events, while Yeung won a bronze medal in the boccia mixed team event.”

Boccia player Leung Yuk-wing, who won two gold medals at the APG this year, said, “Since winning a gold medal at 2004 Paralympics, I have continued to train hard to achieve the best results.   Thanks to the unlimited support of my coaches, family and loved ones, all the hard work is rewarded today.  On top of my medals, I was greatly honoured to be the flag bearer at the closing ceremony of the Incheon APG.”

Hong Kong athletes also recorded strong results in the wheelchair dance and sailing events, despite this year being the first time that local athletes have participated in these events.  Foo Yuen-wai, who has previously represented Hong Kong in shooting events, made an excellent debut in sailing at the Games to capture a bronze medal in the single-person keelboat competition. “Developing strong concentration skills was an essential part of my training when I was a shooter.  This proved particularly valuable in enabling me to stay focused when competing against experienced sailors, even some have been sailing for over 10 years.  Having had such a valuable experience at the APG, I will work even harder to qualify for Rio in 2016.” he said.

Initiated by the HKSI in 1994, the Scheme has been sponsored by Hang Seng since 1996.  The Scheme provides cash incentives to Hong Kong athletes who achieve outstanding performances at the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games and the National Games.  The Scheme was expanded in 2005 to include medallists at the East Asian Games and, in 2010, medallists at the Asian Games and the APG, to further support the development of local sports.  Since 1996, the Scheme has given out over HK$43 million to 454 top-performing local athletes.

Table of Cash Incentives Awarded to Hong Kong Medallists at the 11^th APG (PDF)