Cross-harbour swim could return in December

Hong Kong’s cross-harbour swimming race could make a comeback this year after it was cancelled due to the pandemic in 2020.

The Hong Kong China Swimming Association said on Tuesday that it plans to stage the race on December 12, with the Covid-19 outbreak easing in recent months and the city’s vaccination rate reaching almost 70 percent.

The association said it was in talks with relevant government departments on infection-control arrangements.

It also stressed strict measures will be in place to ensure the safety of participants and staff. These include requiring all swimmers to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of a negative test result before the race.

The association said it hopes to win approval for the race by the end of this month.

Another large-scale sporting event, the Hong Kong Marathon, is set for this Sunday. It was last held in February 2019.