Denny Ng Yuk-kong, a long-serving member of the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, shows off his certificate of 1978 cross-harbor race. Edmond Tang / China Daily

Ronnie Wong Man-chui has won the cross-harbor race as a teenager three years in a row, from 1968 to 1970. Provided to China Daily

Ronnie Wong Man-chui (front, center). Provided to China Daily

The Hong Kong Cross Harbour Swim returns this weekend, after a 33-year hiatus brought on when the harbor became too polluted. With the water quality gradually improving, the return of the swim is viewed by many as the restoration of part of the city's cultural identity. Ming Yeung reports.

"If you ever swim across the harbor, you would probably choke to death, not by swallowing water, but a mouthful of waste!" exclaimed a mainland tourist who stood admiring Hong Kong's iconic skyline at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade.

Many swimming enthusiasts may share his view, but the local swimming association and the government are keen to restore confidence in the water quality by reinstituting the historic event.

Hong Kong, which translates from the Chinese as "the fragrant harbor", is privileged to have one of the world's most beautiful harbors. But in recent decades the city has lived up to its name, after acquiring a bad smell.

The cross-harbor swim was an annual event held from 1906 between Tsim Sha Tsui's Star Ferry pier and Queen's Pier in Central (a distance of roughly 1,600 yards), however owing to unacceptable water pollution levels it was halted after the race of 1978.

The HKASA, or Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association, is reinstituting the cross-harbor swim on Sunday as a statement of the city's cultural identity.

During the 33-year hiatus of the swim, the government has taken greater measures to implement water quality control through the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme. As a result of those efforts, the Environmental Protection Department has officially declared the harbor "safe enough" for swimming.

However, the declaration was not enough to convince dubious Hong Kong people. Experts who carried out tests on the water quality warned that of the 1,000 people who will take part in the swim, 15 could suffer diarrhea afterwards, according to statistical analysis..

HKASA's secretary, Ronnie Wong Man-chui, who won the race as a teenager three years in a row from 1968 to 1970, said that he has held talks with the government for years to plan the event and to make sure the water is "suitable for swimming and aquaculture activities".

Wong added that it has been a personal crusade for him to get the event going again and he believes it is also a dream to many Hong Kong people.

From the 1960s-70s, Wong represented Hong Kong, in two Olympic Games, including the notorious 1972 Munich Olympics, and three Asian Games.

As an organizer of the event, Wong cannot participate in his favorite race though he ardently wishes to swim Victoria Harbour again.

Since most of the former organizers have died or retired, it's been a tough job reviving the event, even though the association has hosted a handful of open water swimming competitions over the last few years.

To test the water after a long break, only 1,000 entrants aged 12 or up will compete in the 1.8 km race from Sam Ka Tsuen in Lei Yue Mun to Quarry Bay Park on Sunday. The new course has been chosen for its relatively better water quality.

Unlike the previous cross-harbor races which started on-shore, all race categories this time will kick off in open water, to avoid accidents.

Registration was brisk this year with an unexpectedly large turn out, said Wong. The limit on participation proved a headache for Wong, who said, failure to help people who wanted to participate was the last thing he wanted to do.

"I don't want the public to think the event is only for a privileged few. We will gradually expand the scale after this," said Wong.

To play it safe, competitors will have to meet a certain standard to be eligible - being able to swim 1.5 km, equivalent to 30 lengths of an Olympic-size pool, in 45 minutes.

That's a bit tough for seniors, Wong admitted. The oldest participant this year is 68.

A 59-year-old frequent swimmer surnamed Leung was particularly worried that he might not qualify, because he took longer than 45 minutes to finish the time trial on Sept 17.

At 23, Leung took part in the 1975 race for fun and, most importantly, a chance for him to show off his swimming skills.

He used to swim from Repulse Bay all the way to Middle Bay and South Bay - beyond the security line which was risky - since it put him in the path of speed boats. Leung and his friends found their usual route tedious and decided to give the cross-harbor race a shot.

Leung said he was shocked at the sudden cancellation of the event in 1978 as it served as "a collective memory of Hong Kong". He said he was thrilled to see it back.

"If the race was to be held in the original route, it would be better," Leung stressed.

Denny Ng Yuk-kong, another long-serving member of the swimming association who has helped to organize the event this year, said the original course may be restored after 2014 when reclamation works have been finished on Hong Kong Island.

Ng, who participated in the last cross-harbor race, said that in the 1970s the harbor was much dirtier than it is now, because raw sewage was dumped straight into the harbor back then.

"We couldn't care for it much; we just enjoyed swimming in the Victoria Harbor," Ng said with a smile.

The ever-growing marine traffic posts another major obstacle for organizers. That's the reason for the 95-minute time limit.

The Marine Department has informed all boats and cruises to change their usual routes on the day of the swim, to ensure the safety of swimmers.

With assistance of the Hong Kong Life Saving Society, 100 lifeguards will be ready on shore and in the sea to help out swimmers who get into difficulty.

Ng has encouraged his youngest son, aged 14, to take part this year, saying he has given him strategies for the race. His son has joined numerous swimming competitions in the past and earned impressive results.

"Swimming in the pool and the sea are completely different things. Swimmers have to pay much closer attention to the sea current, going against it will take a much longer time to finish no matter how fast you swim," he said.

Apart from the usual practices, Ng also advised all participants, whether young or old, racing or just plain having a go, to focus on a landmark building while swimming to navigate to the finish point.

Ronnie Wong promises to upgrade the event to the international level as soon as possible, getting foreign swimmers from around the world to participate and making the event a fabulous hit just like the Rugby Sevens and or the Standard Charter Hong Kong Marathon.

(HK Edition 10/14/2011 page4)