Hong Kong’s favourite
sports are few and passionately followed – none more than
horeseracing. For example, the city's millennium
celebrations were held at the Happy
Valley Racecourse, 2 Sports Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong Island
(tel: 2572 2881). The other popular track is the Sha
Tin Racecourse, Sha Tin, New Territories (tel: 2966 6520). The
well- to-do status of horseracing reached farcical heights in 2002,
when soccer betting was banned in order to protect the Hong
Kong Jockey Club’s official gambling monopoly and
the charitable and tax revenues therefrom – with predictable
bonus for illegal betting syndicates. The policy has since been
re-examined.
The Rugby Sevens are the other main sporting fixture,
games taking place at the Hong Kong Stadium, 55
Eastern Hospital Road, So Kon Po (tel: 2895 7926; fax: 2895 7962;
email: hks@hkstadium.com.hk).
Competition for tickets for this three-day carnival is tough and,
like most major international events, corporate hospitality almost
always scoops the pool. In spite of the enthusiasm for the Sevens
and China’s performance in the 2002 World Cup, Hong Kong itself
doesn't have any notable sports teams.
Tickets for large global events, such as the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens
can be reserved online or at the Hong Kong Stadium or similar venues.
Tickets for races are offered for purchase at the
racecourses and by telephone. The URBTIX
ticketing service for public venues (tel: 2734 9009) and online
booking at Ticketek
and Cityline
handle lots of major sporting events and venues.
Fitness
centres
California
Fitness Centers (tel: 2960 4988; fax: 2960 4933) is Hong Kong’s
favourite chain of clubs, dotted across the territory, including
branches on 1 Wellington Street, Central (tel: 2522 5229), and 5–15
Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui (tel: 2366 8666), both open 365 days
a year. Also, New York Fitness Club, 32 Hollywood
Road, Central (tel: 2543 2280) runs close behind and offers casual
visitors use of the extensive facilities for HK200. There are also
many public facilities, as well as health centres located in the
large hotels.
Golf
The Asian businessperson’s passion for golf is catered for
in several clubs, with the Clearwater
Bay Golf and Country Club, Clearwater Bay, New Territories (tel:
2335 3885; fax: 2335 1380), and the Hong Kong Golf Club,
Fan Ling, New Territories (tel: 2670 1211), preferring those with
the largest expense accounts. Others play at The Jockey
Club Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course, Kau Sai Chau, Sai
Kung (tel: 2791 3388).
Green fees per
person are HK$1400 during the week at Clearwater Bay Golf and Country
Club and Hong Kong Golf Club and from HK$330 at the Jockey Club
Kau Sai Chau Public Golf Course. Visitors are welcome at all the
clubs mentioned, but should contact the chosen establishment in
advance.
Swimming
Hong Kong boasts 42 officially listed swimming beaches and 13 public
pools, not to mention the private pools at sports clubs and hotels.
Popular (sometimes overly popular) public pools include those at
Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, and
Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui. The
open season for sea bathing begins 1 April and ends 31 October,
although the weather may be appropriate to allow swimming outside
these times. Pollution and overcrowding is a problem at the beaches
closer to central Hong Kong; the best beaches are
in the New Territories and the outlying
islands. Summer weekends are very busy on the beaches.
The Amateur Swimming
Association (tel: 2572 8594) might be able to provide more detailed
information.
Tennis
There are public tennis courts available at Victoria
Park, Causeway Bay (tel: 2570 6186), the Tennis
Centre, Wong Nai Chung Gap Road, Happy Valley (tel: 2574
9122), and King’s Park, Kowloon (tel: 2388
8154). Many private clubs and courts are also available for the
prosperous and well connected and through major hotels.
Watersports
Another favourite sporting pastime, sailing and
additional watersports are mainly based in Aberdeen, on the southside
of Hong Kong Island. The exclusive levels of yachting
belong to the Aberdeen
Marina Club, 8 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen (tel: 2555 8321; fax:
2873 5681), and similar institutions, however windsurfing
and wakeboarding are much easier to access. |
