The Women and Sport Commission hosted a mass participation event titled “Active Mom, Active Family - Mother’s Day” at Fantasy Island, Maritime Square on May 14, 2006 (Sunday) from 2:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.  The event was officiated by the President of the SF & OC and Hon. Advisor of the Commission, the Hon. Timothy Fok, GBS, JP.  Participating organisations & groups included The Hong Kong Line Dancing Association, Hong Kong Rope Skipping Association and Tai Chi master Ms. Li Fai and her students.  Sponsors included Maritime Square, ME Fitness Ltd., Akita (HK) Ltd. and Power Root Ltd.

Physical Exercise Demonstrations & Mass Participation

During the event, three different types of exercise are demonstrated, namely line dancing, Tai Chi and rope skipping.  The public also had a chance to try out line dancing and rope skipping on the spot.   Mothers and children alike enjoyed a wonderful time together that afternoon.  There was also a “Health Check” station where the participants and public had their blood pressure and pulse rate measured.  In total, over 300 persons from the public had participated in the event.

During the Opening Ceremony, the Commission introduced four selected role models of “Outstanding Active Mothers” in Hong Kong and these “Active Moms” shared their experience with the public:

- Ms. Scarlett Pong Oi-Lan龐愛蘭女士, Managing Director, Realchamp Asset Management Ltd; President of The Practising Pharmacists Association of Hong Kong

- Ms. Marina Tsui Wai-Fun徐惠芬女士; Watsons Athletic Club Manager, Chairman of Handball Association of Hong Kong, China; Vice President of Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China

- Ms. Li Fai李暉女士; Owner of “Li Fai Centre of Wushu”

- Ms. Kenna Lee Pui-Kam李佩琴女士; Secretary, Half-Marathon runner

Sharing by Elite Athletes

In addition, three young athletes were also invited to share their experience in staying active with their families.  The athletes included Miss Mak So-Ning 麥素寧(Triathlon), Miss Yu Kwok-Sze 于國詩(Table-Tennis) and Miss Vanessa Fung 馮雪儀(Tenpin Bowling).

Parent-Child Exercise Pattern Survey Results Review

Prof. Leung Mee-Lee of Hong Kong Baptist University conducted a survey for the Women & Sport Commission in April this year on a sample size of 140.  Results were announced in the event & it was revealed that 82.5% of parents encouraged their children to participate in sport activities but only 43.3% were willing to accompany their children in exercise.  Children, on the other hand, said that they would like to play sport with their moms (43.4%), as opposed to other choices of activities – such as watching TV (39.8%), electronic games (38.1%), studying (35.4%) and shopping (31.9%).  The survey also showed that 48.7% of mothers spent less than one hour everyday with their children, while 61.1% of responded children hoped their mothers could stay with them for one to two hours or more a day.