Strong current forces organisers' hand in harbour swim

Thousands of swimmers embarked on the annual cross-harbour race on Sunday morning, navigating a one-kilometre course from Wan Chai Golden Bauhinia Square Public Pier to Tsim Sha Tsui's Avenue of Stars. This year's event saw approximately 4,000 participants, with around 300 joining the racing group and the remainder in the leisure group.

Keith Sin, the male champion, praised the race's instructions, noting that navigation buoys were well-placed and that the water temperature was ideal. He commended the organisers for their efforts, highlighting the importance of these buoys in guiding participants. However, the final wave of the leisure group, comprising roughly 700 swimmers, was halted due to strong currents.

Ronnie Wong, Chairman of the Hong Kong China Swimming Association, explained that while they believed all competitors could have completed the race, safety concerns and time constraints led to the decision. The organisers pledged to refund the registration fees of the affected swimmers and to consider prioritising them for next year's event.