Photo shows (front row, from eighth left) the Commissioner for Sports in the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, Sam Wong; Chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee, Dr Karl Kwok; Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Vincent Liu; Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Zhang Guoyi; Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Joe Wong; Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Asian Games, Kenneth Fok; President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Timothy Fok; Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu; Chief Secretary for Administration, Chan Kwok-ki; Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Li Yongsheng; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung; Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Raistlin Lau; Honorary Secretary General of the SF&OC, Edgar Yang, with other guests, athletes and members of the Delegation at a welcome home reception for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, Oct 14, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG – A welcome home reception was held on Saturday to congratulate athletes from the Hong Kong, China delegation on their triumphant return from the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province.

The reception was organized at the Central Government Offices to congratulate home athletes of the Hong Kong, China delegation who won eight gold, 16 silver, and 29 bronze medals in the Hangzhou games, a record-breaking total for Hong Kong athletes in the Asian Games.

READ MORE: HK athletes hailed for bringing glory to city

Speaking at the event, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the Hong Kong athletes' efforts had resulted in an outstanding performance overall and one which shows the special administrative region government is on the right track in terms of allocating resources for sport.

He pointed out that the government's estimated expenditure on sports development in 2023-24 is around HK$7.4 billion, an increase of about 40 percent compared to five years ago.

It represents the government’s focus on five aspects – promoting sports in the community, supporting elite sports, promoting Hong Kong as a center for major international sports events, professionalism in the sports sector, and development of sports as an industry, he added.

ALSO READ: HK football team get $108,000 bonus for historic Asiad feat

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks at the welcome home reception for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, in Hong Kong, Oct 14, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu (right) interacts with athletes at the welcome home reception for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, Oct 14, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu talks with Hong Kong athletes at the welcome home reception for the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou, Oct 14, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu mingles with the city’s athletes at a reception held for them following their participation in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Timothy Fok; Chief Secretary for Administration, Chan Kwok-ki; Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Li Yongsheng; Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Kevin Yeung; Chef de Mission of the Hong Kong, China Delegation to the Asian Games, Kenneth Fok; Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Joe Wong; Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Raistlin Lau; and Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Vincent Liu, also attended the reception.