The 18 Districts' Pledging cum Cheering Team Competition of the 7th Hong Kong Games (HKG) was held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium today (February 24), showing the full support of relevant organisations as well as the readiness of athletes from 18 districts to strive for success in the Games. The Cheering Team Competition encouraged members of the public to give support to the athletes and created a cheerful atmosphere for the 7th HKG.

     Officiating at the ceremony, the Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Jack Chan, said Hong Kong athletes have had outstanding performances in international sports events in recent years. "To achieve such excellence in the international sports arena, apart from athletes' strenuous training and cultivation, building a solid foundation by continuous promotion of a 'Sport for All' culture at the community level is also important. The biennial HKG has fulfilled the mission and is a major event of the Government to promote 'Sport for All' in the community."

     The inter-district sports competitions of the 7th HKG will commence soon. Athletes from the 18 districts will represent their districts to compete at the Games, enhancing communication and fostering friendship among the 18 districts. Mr Chan encouraged members of the public to watch the Games and cheer on the athletes. They can also show support for the Games by taking part in community participation programmes, he added.

     Also officiating at the ceremony, the Chairman of the 7th HKG Organising Committee, Mr David Yip, said that rugby sevens will be included as a new demonstration sport in the 7th HKG. Two competitions, namely the Wheelchair Basketball Challenge and the Swimming Invitation Competition for People with Intellectual Disabilities, will continue to be organised in the 7th HKG, providing more opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in sports.

     He said, "Members of the public participated actively in the athlete selection of the 7th HKG, with the participation of more than 7 400 people, an increase of 1 000 compared to the last HKG. More than 3 300 athletes were nominated to represent their districts to take part in the competition. A new promotional video featuring local elite athletes and sports ambassadors has been produced to appeal to the public to watch the sports competitions and take part in the community participation programmes of the HKG."

     The pledging ceremony was staged at Queen Elizabeth Stadium for the first time together with the 18 Districts' Cheering Team Competition, allowing a larger audience to witness the event. Results of the competition will be announced today on the dedicated HKG website   (http://www.hongkonggames.hk/).

     Cheerleaders from the 18 districts showcased the uniqueness and vitality of their districts today through their performances combining dancing, cheering and chanting, and competed for the Best Performance Award, the Best Local Characteristics Award and the Highest Popularity Award.

     The Best Performance Award assesses the content, action arrangement and onstage presentation of performers, as well as the skills in movements and overall performance. The Best Local Characteristics Award recognises teams that present the best overall impression, with techniques, costumes and appearance, slogans, music and songs that reflect the characteristics of their districts. The Highest Popularity Award will be given to the team which obtains the most votes from the audience through "one person, one vote". The winning teams will give performances at the Opening Ceremony of the 7th HKG on April 28. The prizes will be presented at the Closing cum Prize Presentation Ceremony of the 7th HKG on June 2.  

     The HKG is a territory-wide major multi-sports event held biennially with the 18 District Councils (DCs) as the participating units. The inter-district sports competitions of the 7th HKG will be held between April 28 and June 2 this year, covering eight sports competitions, namely athletics, badminton, basketball, futsal, swimming, table tennis, tennis and volleyball.

     Other community participation programmes of the HKG will also commence, including the Jockey Club Vitality Run to be held on March 10 alongside the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin. A carnival will also be held at Yuen Wo Playground on the event day. Members of the public can enjoy activities such as stage performances, sports demonstrations, game booths, a family area and a photo corner to share the fun of sports. They can also vote for "My Favourite Sporty District" and guess the "Overall Champion of the 7th HKG". Photography enthusiasts can take pictures of the exciting scenes of sports competitions and activities of the 7th HKG to participate in the "Dynamic Moments Photo Contest". Details of the sports competitions and community participation programmes are available at the dedicated website.

     Also officiating at today's ceremony were the President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li; and the Vice Chairman of the 7th HKG Organising Committee, Professor Patrick Yung.  Representatives of the 18 DCs and relevant National Sports Associations also attended the event to show their support.

     The 7th HKG is organised by the Sports Commission and co-ordinated by the Community Sports Committee along with the 18 DCs; the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China; and relevant National Sports Associations as co-organisers. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is recognised as the Principal Contributor.

                

     Police are investigating a murder and attempted suicide case in Tseung Kwan O last night (February 23) in which a 23-year-old man died.

     At about 10.30pm, Police received a report from a 65-year-old male security officer that a woman wandered on ground floor of Shin Lai House, Shin Ming Estate.

     Police sped to the scene and located the 55-year-old woman. She was sent to Tseung Kwan O Hospital in semi-conscious state.

     Police also located her 23-year-old son lying unconsciously inside a unit afterwards. Sustaining injuries to his neck, he was certified dead at scene.

     Initial enquiries revealed that the man was believed to have consumed food mixed with suspected drug and an electric wire was tied around his neck, while his mother attempted to commit suicide by consuming some suspected poison and hanging herself with an electric wire. She was arrested for murder, and is being detained for enquiries.

     Some pills, suspected poison and two electric wires in suspected connection with the case were found inside the unit.

     Post-mortem examinations will be conducted later to ascertain the cause of death of the deceased.

     Investigation by the District Crime Squad of Tseung Kwan O District is underway.

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, at a media session after attending a public function today (February 24):

Reporter: Do you have any concern about the Central-Wan Chai Bypass opening?

Secretary for Transport and Housing: As far as we have observed this morning, because of the various preparatory works our colleagues have done, in terms of signage, in terms of electronic signals, and also consultation with transport trade, it is apparent this morning that the flow is rather smooth. Of course, on Monday morning, when everybody is rushing to work, we hope the drivers would take extra caution and care because signage, customisations, and various things would be new to them when they first use the Bypass. With due collaboration and observation to road safety, I hope everything would be fine tomorrow.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (February 24) will lead a delegation to Shenzhen to attend the second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Hygiene and Health Cooperation Conference to be held tomorrow (February 25) to continue to promote close ties with the Mainland and Macao health authorities.
 
     The conference is co-organised by the Health Commission of Guangdong Province, the Food and Health Bureau, and the Health Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. The conference aims at promoting experience exchange and sharing as well as strengthening co-operation among the three places on matters relating to hygiene and health in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
 
     At the opening ceremony tomorrow, Professor Chan will deliver a speech and sign the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Health Cooperation Consensus with a view to maintaining the co-operation among the three places in the development of quality healthcare services, emergency response in relation to public health issues, the development and innovation of Chinese medicine and the training of healthcare professionals. Later, Professor Chan and senior health executives of Guangdong Province and Macao will jointly host a roundtable meeting.
 
     Members of the Hong Kong delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Leung Pak-yin.
 
     Professor Chan will return to Hong Kong tomorrow evening. The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, will be the Acting Secretary for Food and Health during Professor Chan's absence.

The following is issued on behalf of the Liquor Licensing Board:

     The Liquor Licensing Board will meet on Tuesday (February 26) to consider three applications for renewal and amendment of liquor licences on Hong Kong Island.

     The applications are (not in order of discussion):
 
Mama Malouf in Kennedy Town
Graffiti in Central
Ciacoe in Wan Chai
 
     The board will also consider revoking the liquor licences of LA VIN WINES ET PETITE CUCINA in Central and THAI FARM RESTAURANT in Kowloon City.
 
     The meeting will be held at 9.45am in the conference room, Room 102, 1/F, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Members of the public are welcome to attend, except during the private session on confidential items.