Hong Kong's annual harbour swim resumes after three years

HONG KONG - An annual swim across Hong Kong's
Victoria Harbour was held Sunday for the first time in three years, after
being cancelled due to the pro-democracy protests and then the pandemic.

  The Habour Race is one of a few major sporting events permitted to resume
this year in the financial hub.

  However, under the government's strict anti-virus restrictions only half of
the usual 3,000 swimmers were allowed to compete, and all were required to
have received two vaccinations and tested Covid negative prior to the event.

  Double Olympic silver medal-winner Siobhan Haughey was among a number of
professional athletes leading cheers for the swimmers when they plunged into
the cool seawater as Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam's airhorn blared.

  Leung Yuen-ying, 79, the oldest swimmer this year, joined the race with her
daughter.

  "My father used to race this so I have a special feeling for it," Leung
told reporters.

  "I hope that one generation after another can continue to have this
meaningful event in Hong Kong," she said.

  Harbour Race was scrapped last year thanks to the pandemic with the massive
pro-democracy demonstrations rocking the city causing its cancellation in
2019.

  First held in 1906, it has been suspended for two periods in history -- for
five years in the 1940s around the Japanese occupation, and for three decades
thanks to pollution before being reinstated in 2011.

  The resumption of the race comes as the city reports zero local infections
for months as well as maintaining strict quarantine rules for arrivals.

  Hong Kong has recorded nearly 12,500 infections and 213 deaths from the coronavirus.BSS/AFP