The San Francisco City Government announced at a press conference in April that San Francisco would be the only US stop during the Olympic Torch Relay preceding the 2008 Olympic Games. Ms Doris Cheung, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office participated in the conference together with Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco; Ambassador Ke-yu Peng, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco; Robert Fasulo and Robert Ctvrtlik of the US Olympic Committee.

“We are very delighted that both Hong Kong and San Francisco are included in the Olympic Torch Route. Indeed, it is an extraordinary honor for Hong Kong to be named an Olympic city, and to host the Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events of the 2008 Games”, said Ms Cheung.

The 2008 Olympic Equestrian Events will take place from August 8 to 24, 2008. There will be some 220 horses and 200 athletes participating in the Events.

“Hong Kong has rich experience and good credentials in equine health. For the 2008 Events, consensus has been reached with the participating countries on horse quarantine and import/export arrangements. The “7+10” protocol (7-day pre-export quarantine and 10-day post-arrival isolation) will be adopted during the Games period,” added Ms Cheung.

Hong Kong is fully geared up for the 2008 Equestrian Events. A test event entitled “Good Luck Beijing! HKSAR 10th Anniversary Cup” will be held from 11 to 13 August 2007, with the participation of about 40 local and overseas horses. A number of countries including USA, Germany and UK have expressed interest in taking part in the event. Around 1,800 volunteers will be recruited to help make the Equestrian Events a smooth operation. Orientation for the lead volunteers commenced in February.

“The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is one of the most important ceremonies and a major means to promote the Olympic spirit. The stop at Hong Kong will not only showcase the people, beautiful sceneries, and cultural heritage of our vibrant city, but also unify the whole community to share the joy and glory of participating in the Olympics,” added Ms Cheung.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is scheduled to last 130 days and travel 137,000 kilometers. The torch will visit all five land masses represented by the Olympic rings on its “Journey of Harmony.” One of the highlights of the flame’s journey across China will be the attempt to bring it to the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, or Mount Qomolangma, as it is known in China. Innovative engineering in the development of the torch will allow it to burn at high altitudes, in rain and high winds