Hong Kong Athletes Shine at 2024 Paris Olympics, Chief Executive Congratulates Historic Achievements

CE congratulates Hong Kong, China Delegation's historic results at Paris Olympics

With the closing of the 2024Paris Olympic Games today (August 11, Paris time), the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, concluded the performance of the Hong Kong, China Delegation by expressing his heartfelt congratulations to the athletes on their historic achievements and his gratitude to all sectors of the community for the strong support to the athletes.

"Hong Kong athletes have demonstrated their extraordinary capability at the 2024Paris Olympic Games and achieved historic results by capturing two gold medals and two bronze medals in four sports events. It was the first time that Hong Kong has won more than one gold medal at the same Olympic Games. Every Hong Kong athlete has given their utmost and unleashed their full potential in the Olympic arena. In spite of the results, all athletes have fully exhibited their determination, perseverance and will, demonstrating their professional attitude and sportsmanship. The people of Hong Kong and I are deeply inspired and moved. The people of Hong Kong are proud of the high level of performance shown by Hong Kong athletes, and each and every one of them is a hero in our hearts.

"The outstanding performance of Hong Kong athletes at this year's Olympic Games was thanks not only to their own efforts, but also to the dedication and meticulous training efforts of coaches and support teams, as well as the support of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China and various national sports associations. I recognise and appreciate their contributions. I also thank the local universities and research and development teams for their scientific research achievements which have helped to enhance the performance of athletes," Mr Lee said.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government secured the broadcasting rights of the 2024Paris Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Hong Kong. Three local licensed television broadcasters and Radio Television Hong Kong have been broadcasting the Games in accordance with government requirements. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department also set up various Olympics Focal Sites in 18 districts to allow members of the public to watch the exciting events for free. Major shopping malls and buildings have also set up screens to broadcast the competitions, enabling members of the public to experience the excitement of this spectacular sports event, and cheer for the national team and Hong Kong athletes.

The HKSAR Government has been proactively allocating resources to develop elite sports in the past decade or so to ensure the provision of the best training facilities for athletes by setting up the Elite Athletes Development Fund to secure sufficient financial resources for the HKSI to meet the needs of athletes in various aspects and enhance the remuneration of elite athletes; providing scholarships and learning support for elite athletes' dual career development in sports and academics; and improving retirement arrangements for athletes including retirement cash incentives and comprehensive employment support. In addition, the Government will continue to provide more sports facilities, including converting an existing sports centre into a dedicated venue for fencing training and competitions, and expediting the study on the construction of an arena with fencing training and competition facilities as well as a swimming pool suitable for hosting international competitions. The Kai Tak Sports Park, the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong's history, will open in the first half of 2025 and support Hong Kong's sports development in a more comprehensive manner.

In the year of 2024-25, the Government's annual funding for the HKSI, through the Elite Athletes Development Fund, amounted to $941.6 million, representing an increase of about 40 per cent over five years ago (the year of 2019-20). The Government's estimated expenditure on sports development in 2024-25 is around $7.9 billion, which has more than doubled compared to a decade ago. The focus of promotion is in five aspects, namely to promote sports in the community, support elite sports, promote Hong Kong as a centre for major international sports events, promote professionalism in the sports sector and foster the development of sports as an industry. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau has set aside funds under the Arts and Sport Development Fund (Sports Portion) to support athletes' preparation for and participation in international sports events like the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

"Over the past two weeks, the people of Hong Kong have been fully engaged in various events of the Olympic Games, cheering for athletes at home, Olympics Focal Sites and shopping malls with solidarity. The good performance of athletes at the 2024Paris Olympic Games has injected new impetus to Hong Kong's sports development and encouraged more enterprises and members of the public to support Hong Kong athletes, creating a positive social atmosphere and motivating more people to exercise. The HKSAR Government will continue to support sports development in Hong Kong in terms of policy, facilities and resources.

"A number of important sports events will take place shortly, including the 2024Paris Paralympic Games in late August, as well as the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games to be cohosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao towards the end of next year. I am confident that various sectors will continue to support Hong Kong athletes to shine in the competitions, demonstrating the indomitable spirit of Hong Kong," Mr Lee said.

DH signs Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines with Experimental Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to promote implementation of innovation and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine

The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today (September 11) witnessed in Beijing the Department of Health (DH) and the Experimental Research Center (ERC) of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (CACMS), which is a subsidiary organisation under the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), signing a Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines (Co-operation Agreement) that covers a period of five years. The Co-operation Agreement reinforces the exchange and collaboration, jointly promote the modernisation and innovation of Chinese medicines, as well as the advancement of high-quality development of Chinese medicines.

Witnessed by Dr Ronald Lam, Director of the Department of International Co-operation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan Affairs) of the NATCM, Mr Wu Zhendou, and the Vice President of the CACMS, Dr Yang Hongjun, the Co-operation Agreement was signed by the Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Dr Edmund Fong, and the Deputy Director of the ERC, Dr Yuan Yuan.

The areas of collaboration include reinforcement on research and standardization of Chinese medicines quality testing, establishment of Chinese medicines quality testing data platforms, holding expert meetings on different fields of Chinese medicines jointly. The Co-operation Agreement enhances the standard of local Chinese medicines testing technology, reinforces the exchange and collaboration on testing technology, nurtures innovative talents and further foster the internationalisation of Chinese medicines, so as to align with the national development strategies for Chinese medicines as outlined in the Development Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period.

"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the NATCM and the CACMS for their continuous support to the DH, including sending Chinese medicine experts to join Hong Kong to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, arranging acupuncture experts to provide guidance and training for local Chinese medicine practitioners on smoking cessation services with the Chinese medicine and acupuncture, sending Chinese medicine experts to assist Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in conducting the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Licensing Examination, and inviting HKSAR Government to participate in the 'the Fourth National Survey of Chinese Materia Medica Resources' and providing guidance in various technical aspects. We have maintained close collaboration on the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine and to the development of global health over the years. I earnestly look forward to deepening our co-operation and exchange in Chinese medicine through the Co-operation Agreement signed today, and continue to work together to build a healthy China, healthy Greater Bay Area, and a healthy Hong Kong!", Dr Lam said.

After the signing ceremony, Dr Lam visited the ERC and the National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica of the CACMS, to learn about the latest development of Chinese medicines testing and research work in the Mainland and had discussion with professional staff in the laboratories. Dr Lam stated that upon the completion and commissioning of the new building of the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, there will be more opportunities for both parties to collaborate on Chinese medicines research, allowing more research results to be published in the new journal Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The DH has been actively facilitating exchange and co-operation with the NATCM in the testing and reference standard research of Chinese medicines. Both parties will implement the work related to promoting the high-quality development of the traditional Chinese medicines industry as outlined in the Development Plan for Traditional Chinese Medicine during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, including the joint construction of a quality testing platform for Chinese medicines, and accelerating the standardisation, informatisation, modernisation and internationalisation of Chinese medicines. Under this synergistic effect, it can further promote the Chinese medicines industry towards high-quality development.

DH signs Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines with Experimental Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to promote implementation of innovation and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH signs Co-operation Arrangement on Research for Quality Testing and Standards of Chinese Medicines with Experimental Research Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences to promote implementation of innovation and high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases