The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council extended its congratulations to the Hong Kong and Macao delegations to the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, praising the athletes’ unwavering perseverance and spirit of determination.

During the Games, which were held from Aug 28 to Sept 8, Hong Kong secured an impressive medal haul of three gold, four silver, and one bronze, representing its best results since the Rio Paralympics in 2016. The boccia team achieved a historical record, winning three gold and two silver medals.

The office said that the nation is proud of the athletes’ performance, honored every athlete for having pushed themselves beyond their limits in the pursuit of excellence, and encouraged the athletes to continue with their dedication to sportsmanship and reach even greater heights.

In a congratulatory letter to the Hong Kong delegation, the office expressed pride in, and admiration for, the athletes' magnificent performances, adding that their unwavering perseverance and spirit of determination had vividly captured the city’s “Lion Rock Spirit”.

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During media interviews with the athletes on their return to the city on Tuesday morning, men's badminton player Daniel Chan Ho-yuen — who served as a flag bearer for Hong Kong at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Paralympics — said he was satisfied with the silver medal he won in the men's singles, adding that he had fulfilled his promise.

He said he hopes that even after his retirement, residents will remember his performances. He also encouraged residents to support those athletes who did not win any medals. He praised the hard work of every member of the Hong Kong team and called on residents to continue supporting the athletes in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

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Swimmer Chan Yui-lam, who won a silver medal in the women's 100-meters butterfly S14 final, said she was honored to have been a flag bearer for Hong Kong in closing ceremony. Chan said that her results in the competition were close to the highest marks, and expressed her hope to secure a gold medal for the Hong Kong team in the next Paralympics. She said she plans to continue refining her swimming skills after taking a short break.

Hong Kong sent a team of 23 athletes — nine men and 14 women — to the Paris Paralympics, and participated in eight major events including table tennis, boccia, and swimming.

READ MORE: HK, China team clinch another gold, silver at Paris Paralympics

Seventeen-year-old Chio Hao-lei — the only Macao athlete to participate in the Paris Paralympics —achieved her best result of the season in the Women’s Long Jump T20 event, securing 15th place.