The Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, The Hon Matthew Cheung, delivered a speech at the launch ceremony of the Asia Powerboat Race yesterday.

260 people including Hong Kong Government officials attended the ceremony in Kowloon.

The Chief Secretary said in his speech:

I am very pleased to be invited to attend the opening ceremony of both the Asia Powerboat Association and the the Asia Powerboat Race (Hong Kong) 2018.

Powerboat Racing is an emerging sport in Asia.

Under the efforts of the Asia Powerboat Association, Hong Kong was fortunate to be selected as the first stop of the ‘Asia Powerboat Race’ and has invited many world-class racers to compete at the three-day event.

I am very much looking forward to it.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has always supported and promoted water sports projects.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Asia Powerboat Association and thank the Association for its efforts in promoting racing, training Hong Kong racers and organising large-scale competitions.

I wish the Asia Powerboat Race (Hong Kong) 2018 to be a complete success.

The inaugural Asia Powerboat Race will be supported by the Hong Kong Tourist Association and will be held over the weekend of November 9-11.