GUANGHZOU: Authorities in Guangzhou and Hong Kong signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday to construct equestrian facilities for the 16th Asian Games next year.

Under the memorandum, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will cooperate with the Guangzhou-based Pearl River Enterprises Group to develop an equestrian field in Conghua, about 40 km north of downtown Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.

"The venues will allow Guangzhou to become the mainland's first city to hold equestrian events," said Xu Ruisheng, vice mayor of Guangzhou.

Hong Kong will play an important role in the preparations for November's Games as it successfully hosted equestrian events at last year's Beijing Olympic Games.

Early reports said Hong Kong and Macao would not host the Games' equestrian events due to high costs and difficulties renting fields.

"Support from Hong Kong will help ensure the smooth running of the equestrian events, which are an important part of the Asian Games," Xu, also deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee, said.

Besides construction of the venues, authorities in Hong Kong will provide technical support to their Guangzhou counterparts.

After the Games, the 150-hectare field will be renovated to meet the standards of racehorse training in Hong Kong, HKJC chairman Johan Chan said.

"The field opens a way for us to acquire more areas to secure racing's future," Chan said.

Next year's equestrian competitions, which will include eight smaller events apart from the Games, are expected to attract about 200 horses from 20 countries and regions.

The disease-free zone, which will range from Hong Kong to Conghua, will allow overseas horses to compete in the mainland for the first time.

"All horses will be strictly inspected as soon as they land," Chan said.

Horses for the event will be introduced via Hong Kong to Guangzhou, Chan said, adding the animals will be kept in designated areas.

Quarantine will be conducted by authorities in Guangdong and Shandong provinces.

(China Daily 12/03/2009 page23)