A fence design competition for the Show Jumping Event in the Equestrian Events is launched today (27 November 2006) aiming to arouse and promote interests in the 2008 Olympics Equestrian Events which will be held for the first time ever on Chinese soil in Hong Kong.

Organised by the Equestrian Company, the competition is a unique chance for the Hong Kong community to showcase its ingenuity and love for the motherland and Hong Kong through designing fences for the Equestrian Events. The competition is supported by Bank of China (Hong Kong).

The jumping fences should convey the themes of the Beijing Olympics, which are “Green Olympics”, “High-tech Olympics” and “People’s Olympics”, and the brand images of Hong Kong which include the attributes of “progressive”, “innovative” and “cosmopolitan”. The judging criteria will be based on originality, adherence to topic/theme and creativity.

Addressing the audience at the launching ceremony today, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Jumping Fence Design Competition and Deputy Secretary General of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Mr. Ronnie Wong, said: “Jumping fences were an integral part of the visual enjoyment that the equestrian sport imparted to its spectators and they vividly displayed the cultural identity of the host cities.”

“Hong Kong has a pool of talent that would turn out ingenious designs that would contribute to the success of the Equestrian Events,” he added.

Vice-President of the Equestrian Committee (Hong Kong) of Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad and SF&OC President, Mr. Timothy Fok, said jumping fences are a good way to promote the Hong Kong personality before the global community.

He said the competition is a good opportunity for the Hong Kong public to exercise their creativity by submitting innovative designs for fences.

Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), Mr. He Guangbei, said, “The competition blends together the characteristics of sports, art and education. It aims to enhance the interest of the general public in the appreciation of equestrian sports by means of creative art competition. Therefore, Bank of China (Hong Kong) fully supports this meaningful campaign. Bank of China, the parent bank of BOCHK, is the official banking partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. We will therefore continue to contribute our small part by supporting various Olympic activities in the time ahead.”

The competition, which is open to all, comprises three categories - Junior (for under 16), Senior (for 16 or above) and Professional.

Cash prizes of $10,000, $8,000 and $5,000 will be awarded in each category. Award-winning and finalist’ works will be displayed in public in Hong Kong.

Interested parties can visit the website: www.equestrian.org for details and downloadable entry forms. The competition leaflets and applications forms are also available at the extensive branch network of BOCHK.

Entries should be submitted together with the required documents by post or by hand to the Equestrian Company on the 37th floor of Bank of China Tower, 1 Garden Road, Central, on or before February 28, 2007.

Also officiating at today’s launch ceremony were the Chief Executive Officer of the Equestrian Company, Mr. Lam Woon-kwong; Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and President of the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation, Dr. Simon Ip; Head of Olympic Office of Bank of China, Mr. Xu Chen; Deputy Secretary of the Home Affairs Bureau, Mrs. Agnes Allcock and Principal Education Officer (Curriculum Development) of the Education and Manpower Bureau, Mr. Benjamin Yung.