Flag presentation ceremony held for HKSAR delegation to 1st National Youth Games

The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (September 23) presented the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) flag to the HKSAR delegation to the 1st National Youth Games (NYG) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

The President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and Chairman of the Organising Committee of the HKSAR Delegation, Mr Timothy Fok, accompanied by two Vice Chairmen of the Organising Committee, Mr Tony Yue and the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Michelle Li, received the HKSAR flag from Mr Lau.

Speaking at the flag presentation ceremony, Mr Lau extended his congratulations to Hong Kong cyclist Leung Ka-yu for winning the first silver medal in men's omnium cycling-track event at the 1st NYG. Mr Lau said that we are proud of Leung Ka-yu's excellent performance.

Mr Lau said that the HKSAR Government always promotes sports development proactively. To nurture young talents in sports, the Government allocates extra resources to enhance training and supports them to join large-scale sports competitions during which the athletes can advance their skills through observations and accumulation of actual experience. Through participation in the Games, Hong Kong athletes will find the chance to interact with top-notch athletes from Mainland China, which will provide valuable experience in getting ready for international competitions in future. Mr Lau said he believed that the HKSAR delegation would strive for breakthroughs and scale new heights at the 1st NYG and return with pride.

The NYG was formerly known as the National Intercity Games. It is a national mega sports event held every four years to promote sports development in cities and to identify talented young athletes as potential successors in the country's sports sector. The 1st NYG will be held between October 18 and 27 in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. The HKSAR delegation comprises 295 members, among which 214 athletes will take part in final competitions in 20 sports, namely swimming, athletics, archery, badminton, canoeing, cycling, fencing, women's U18 football, gymnastics, women's handball, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, taekwondo, tennis, beach volleyball, volleyball (women's U17, men's U19 and men's U17), windsurfing and wushu (taolu). Eighty-one officials and medical staff will accompany them.

Ends/Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:00

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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, officiated at the flag presentation ceremony of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) delegation to the 1st National Youth Games at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre this evening (September 23). Photo shows Mr Lau (second row, fifth left) presenting the HKSAR flag to the Chairman of the Organising Committee of the HKSAR Delegation, Mr Timothy Fok.