Press Releases

HK and the Netherlands sign import and export protocol for 2008 equestrian event horses (with photo)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Netherlands today (December 13) signed an operational arrangement on the protocol for the import and export of Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Event horses between the two places.

The protocol was signed by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mrs Stella Hung, and the Director-General, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality of the Netherlands, Mrs Renee Bergkamp.

In his welcoming speech, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, said the ceremony was a milestone event in Hong Kong's preparation for the quarantine arrangements for the importation of horses competing in the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events to be held here, as there would be competing horses being imported from the Netherlands.

"The execution of the operational arrangement will also set the stage for stronger links between Hong Kong and the Netherlands in the import and export of horses," he said.

Since the announcement on staging the events in Hong Kong was made in July 2005, the Government has been working very closely with the relevant organisations and authorities such as the World Organisation for Animal Health, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, to work out the import arrangements for horses participating in the 2008 Equestrian Events.

The main purpose of putting in place the operational arrangement is to ensure that imported horses are free from diseases of concern to Hong Kong's equine population, to prevent the spread of diseases between horses competing in the events and the smooth re-export of horses to their original exporting countries after the events.



Ends/Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:09

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