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The Government today (January 24) announced the setting up of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund and the appointment of Ms Elsie Leung to head the fund's Board of Governors.
The Fund is set up under the Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporation Ordinance. It is to raise funds to support cultural, education and community involvement activities relating to the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events (the Events), and to encourage community participation in the Events.
A spokesman for the Home Affairs Bureau said it was hoped that the fund would help inspire Hong Kong people to embrace Olympism and cultivate an Olympic city atmosphere in the territory.
"The fund will also help enhance social cohesion and an awareness and appreciation in the community as to the value of sports in general and the Olympic spirit in particular," the spokesman said.
Hong Kong will stage the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events in August and September, 2008 respectively. A Coordination Committee on Culture, Education and Community Involvement was set up under the Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) of Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, of which the Chief Secretary for Administration is the President. The coordination committee has formulated a comprehensive plan to cultivate community awareness, understanding and enthusiasm about the Olympic Games and the Equestrian Events.
With the support of the fund, a wide range of projects and activities will be organised to build and galvanise community support to make the occasion a great success for everyone, the spokesman said.
The Government also announced appointments to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Equestrian Events Hong Kong Fund Board of Governors. Members of the board, which is responsible for the overall supervision and management of the fund, are appointed for two years ending December 7, 2008.
A list of full membership of the board is as follows:
Chairman:
Ms Elsie Leung, GBM, JP
Non-official members:
Mr Chau How-chen, GBS, JP
Mr Yu Kwok-chun, GBS, JP
Ms Shelley Lee Lai-kuen, GBS
Mr Victor Hui Chun-fui, SBS, JP
Mr Raymond Lee Man-chun, BBS
Mr William Leung Wing-cheung, JP
Mr Wilfred Ng Sau-kei, MH
Ex-officio member:
Mrs Agnes Allcock, JP (representative of Home Affairs Bureau)
Ends/Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:31
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