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Top HK athletes to share cash award
They may have missed out on medals at the Beijing Olympics, but the Hong Kong athletes who finished in the top 16 of their events will share HK$950,000 for their efforts.
Under the "Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme", those who finished between 4th and 16th place in individual events will be paid HK$50,000, while teams will receive HK$100,000, a bank spokeswoman said yesterday.
Sixteen Hong Kong athletes came in the top 16 of their events.
So table tennis stars Lin Ling, Tie Yana, Ko Lai-chak and Li Ching, who made the grade in both the singles and team events, will enjoy a double payout.
Other prize winners include Samantha Lam, Patrick Lam and Kenneth Cheng Man-kit in the equestrian jumping team, and world champion cyclist Wong Kam-po.
There will also be a HK$20,000 reward for each athlete who broke a Hong Kong record.
This prize will go to three swimmers who set five new records: Stephanie Au Hoi-yin in the women's 200 metres and in the 800 metres freestyle events; Hannah Wilson in the women's 100 metres freestyle and 100 metres butterfly; and Sherry Tsai Hiu-wai in the women's 200 metres individual medley.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute organises the scheme, which is sponsored by Hang Seng Bank and launched in 1996.
It offers cash to local athletes who win medals at the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 4th East Asian Games and the 10th National Games. The bank has so far paid HK$6.4 million to 81 local athletes, including HK$2.8 million to Olympians, over the years.
Raymond Or Ching-fai, the bank's vice-chairman and chief executive, said: "I am really proud to see the overwhelming success that our country has had at the Beijing Olympic Games. I also deeply appreciate the efforts of Hong Kong athletes who have demonstrated the utmost determination and dedication throughout the Games."
Windsurfer Lee Lai-shan is the only local athlete to have pocketed the top prize of HK$1 million after she clinched gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
The recipients
Sixteen athletes placed within the top 16 in their events
Wang Chen badminton - women's singles
Jamie Wong Wan-yiu cycling - women's points race
Wong Kam-po cycling - men's points race
Samantha Lam equestrian - jumping team
Patrick Lam equestrian - jumping team
Kenneth Cheng Man-kit equestrian - jumping team
Chow Kwong-wing rowing - men's lightweight double sculls
So Sau-wah rowing - men's lightweight double sculls
Tie Yana table tennis - women's singles
Lau Sui-fei table tennis - women's team
Lin Ling table tennis - women's team
Ko Lai-chak table tennis - men's singles
Li Ching table tennis - men's singles
Cheung Yuk table tennis - men's team
Chan King-yin windsurfing - men's RS:X
Vicky Chan Wai-kei windsurfing - women's RS:X
Three athletes broke five Hong Kong records
Stephanie Au Hoi-yin swimming - women's 200m freestyle and 800m freestyle
Sherry Tsai Hiu-wai swimming - women's 200m individual medley
Hannah Wilson swimming - women's 100m freestyle; 100m butterfly