Hong Kong First to Stage Powerboat Grand PrixHong Kong will launch a new signature event -- Hong Kong Powerboat Grand Prix -- early next year in the beautiful Victoria Harbor, said organizers Thursday.Peter Mann, assistant commissioner for Hong Kong Tourism, one of the organizers, said the race would be held on January 28, 2001, the fifth day of the Chinese New Year. He added that this premier sporting event promised firmly to establish Hong Kong as the Events Capital of Asia. "The event has the full backing of the government and is one of those world-class events which would increase visitor arrivals," said Mann. It is the Asia leg and inaugural event of an international powerboats world championship. The global tour will start in Hong Kong, then move to Melbourne, Daytona, Caribbean, Sarasota, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, New York, then to St. Petersburg for the final. Twenty top international race teams from the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia will compete for the event. With the boats travelling at top speed of around 120 mph, they will complete a minimum of 10 to 15 laps of the course. Hong Kong will have its own team racing in this first race of the global tour. Audi Chung will head the Hong Kong team in his red 42-foot twin F-16 canopied catamaran. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |