Community spirit was loud and proud in Hong Kong this morning as more than 400 runners and hundreds of spectators took over the heart of the city for the 11th CENTRAL Rat Race, organised by Hongkong Land.
The kick-off on Chater Road was officiated by the Hon Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet- ngor, GBM, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration; Mr Yip Wing-shing, BBS, MH, JP, Chairman of the Central and Western District Council; Mr Chan Hok-fung, MH, Vice Chairman of the Central and Western District Council; Mr Ben Keswick, Chairman of MINDSET; Mr Robert Wong, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land; and Mr Raymond Chow, Executive Director of Hongkong Land.
The CENTRAL Rat Race attracted participants from across the community, including business executives, office workers, NGO representatives, school children, as well as their families and friends. Together with their fans and the corporate world, they helped raise a record-breaking HK$3.28 million for MINDSET, a registered charity that supports mental health initiatives in Hong Kong and mainland China.
The CENTRAL Rat Race has been one of Hong Kong’s signature charity events since its launch in 2006. An exciting, fast-paced relay race themed on the corporate world, it promotes work-life balance, teamwork, fun, and physical and mental fitness. It also emphasises CENTRAL’s role as a leading business, commercial and lifestyle hub with its innovative obstacle course, which is creatively intertwined through many of the city’s Grade A buildings and pedestrian connectors.
Speaking at the Race, Mr Robert Wong, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, said, “The CENTRAL Rat Race is one of Hongkong Land’s most important and enjoyable community events. We believe the key to its continued success is growing participation among families and our young people, who can help ensure a long-term sense of charitable spirit for our city’s future. I would like to thank everyone for their generous support and enthusiasm for the fun and festivities at the CENTRAL Rat Race.”
Mr Ben Keswick, Chairman of MINDSET, said, “There are so many people and families whose lives are affected by mental illness. For 11 years now, the CENTRAL Rat Race has been one of the most important initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of mental health in Hong Kong. We are incredibly grateful for the support of everyone present today, especially to those who participated. The awareness raised and the contributions made will go a long way towards changing people’s mindset and lives.”
The CENTRAL Rat Race comprises four race categories: the main relay-style Rat Race for teams of eight members each; the Big Rat Race for individual senior executives; the NGO Rat Race for NGO representatives in the mental health sector; and the Junior Rat Race for children between the ages of five and 10. Participants wear colourful costumes and running shoes while trying to navigate obstacles, passing a briefcase as a baton between team members.
The winners of the CENTRAL Rat Race 2016 are:
| Rat Race Cup (fastest team in the Rat Race) |
Jardine Restaurant Group |
| Big Rat Cup (fastest individual senior executive in the Big Rat Race) |
Mr Archibald David Keswick from The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong |
| Junior Rat Cup (fastest participant in the Junior Rat Race) |
Aadan Pang Long-kiu |
| NGO Rat Cup (fastest team in the NGO Rat Race) |
Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (Amity Place) |
| Top Five Speedy Rats Award (five fastest teams in the Rat Race) |
1. Jardine Restaurant Group 2. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited 3. Savills (Hong Kong) Limited 4. Jardine OneSolution (HK) Limited 5. The Dairy Farm Company, Limited |
| Fat Rat Award (team that raised the most funds) |
The Dairy Farm Company, Limited |
| Rat Leader Award (best captain) |
Mr Haresh Vazirani from Aberdeen International Fund Managers Limited |
| Best Team Spirit Award (best team spirit) |
Central Management Limited |
| Best Dressed Rat Team Award (best team costumes) |
J.P. Morgan |
| Fancy Rat Award (best individual costume) |
Mr Archibald David Keswick from The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong |
|
Best Dressed Junior Rat Award |
Ho Yat-sum |
| Best Dressed NGO Cheering Team Award (best costumes among NGO cheering teams) |
New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association |
This year Hongkong Land introduced creative new obstacles along the eight-leg race course, which was themed on a day in the office. These included challenges like Leg 3, “Setting the Agenda”, where participants had to complete Mr Rat’s daily planner, and Leg 4, “Watch Your Back”, where runners had to pick up a bow and arrow and then shoot targets placed on the backs of their teammates. In addition to the action and excitement on the race course, spectators and families also enjoyed a range of activity booths that included fun games, face painting, snacks and more.
The event was supported by the Central and Western District Council, Central Development Limited, South China Morning Post, TVB Pearl, Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Limited, J.P. Morgan, KPMG, Mayer Brown JSM, Wise Kids, Mannings, Maxim’s Group, Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Oliver’s The Delicatessen.
About Hongkong Land
Hongkong Land is a listed leading property investment, management and development group. Founded in 1889, Hongkong Land’s business is built on excellence, integrity and partnership.
The Group owns and manages almost 800,000 sq. m. of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong and Singapore. Hongkong Land’s properties attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands.
Its Hong Kong Central portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. It has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures, and a 50% interest in a leading office complex in Central Jakarta. The Group also has a number of high quality residential and mixed-use projects under development in cities across Greater China and Southeast Asia, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing. In Singapore, its subsidiary, MCL Land, is a well-established residential developer.
Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange as its primary listing, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.
About MINDSET
MINDSET’s goal is to make a difference in the area of mental health. It aims to change people’s attitudes by raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues, as well as providing direct assistance for individuals, families and organisations in need of help. MINDSET is a registered charity in Hong Kong established by the Jardine Matheson Group in 2002 and led by the Jardine Ambassadors, a group of young executive volunteers from Jardines.
MINDSET’s current initiatives are focused on the following areas:
• Education and Prevention – to raise awareness of mental health issues among young people through the in-school ‘Health in Mind’ programme, co-organised with the Hospital Authority. Since 2002, the programme has reached over 130,000 students, teachers and parents, and currently covers 33 secondary schools;
• Reintegration – to support effective reintegration services to mental health hospitals and agencies through patient support activities, together with the promotion of a job training programme for rehabilitated people within Jardine Matheson Group companies;
• Financial Support – to provide funding support to mental health projects that benefit individuals who suffer from a mental illness, their carers and their families; examples include donations to a three-year pilot project to provide training and employment for rehabilitated individuals to help others who are suffering from mental illness; and the setting up of a home called MINDSET Place for people with chronic mental illness to assist them in reintegrating into society; and
• Community Awareness and Fund Raising – to promote community awareness of mental health related issues through activities, and to raise funds with the aim of providing direct support services for the mentally ill, their carers and their families.
Beneficiaries of volunteer work and financial support provided by MINDSET include a range of NGOs and Government agencies that are active in the mental health sector.
