More than 40 political and business leaders joined the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon Leaders Cup on Sunday morning, with Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee donning panda hoods to “run on behalf of” the first Hong Kong-born giant panda twins.
The 2-kilometer run commenced at 7:15 am at Wan Chai Sports Ground, concluding at Victoria Park.
Notable participants included Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, Executive Council member Eliza Chan Ching-har, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority vice-chairman Bernard Charnwut Chan, Hospital Authority chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing, and Tourism Board executive director Dane Cheng Ting-yat.
In his speech before the event, Paul Chan said the Hong Kong marathon’s international recognition, noting that 20 percent of the 74,000 runners hailed from over 100 countries and regions.
“It is a pity that many [overseas runners] wanted to participate [in the marathon] but unfortunately could not make it this year. They understand how valuable this opportunity is, and next year they will register in advance,” he said.
He highlighted sports as a “unifying force,” asserting that the Leaders Cup symbolizes community unity and plays a crucial role in the city’s economic growth.
After the event, Pong, playfully wearing panda hoods, quipped that the panda twins were “not available” to join, so he participated “on behalf of them.”
“They will be ready to meet the public in a week, and I hope that everybody will visit Ocean Park to support us,” he said.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok, a passionate running enthusiast, participated in the 10 km marathon on Sunday morning, completing the race in 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 17 seconds.
In a Facebook post, Lam shared his experience, saying that despite the chilly 10 degrees Celsius at the race’s start on the Island Eastern Corridor, “the enthusiasm of tens of thousands of runners created a positive energy that made the run more comfortable than expected.”
(Eunice Lam)
