The Quest for Gold - Fifty Years of Amateur Sports in Hong Kong, 1947-1997

The Quest for Gold is the first comprehensive record of sports in Hong Kong. It traces the practice of sport in Hong Kong dating back a century-and-a-half, when it was a pastime for foreign residents, and limited to a few clubs with access to grounds and pools. Some of the schools with their own sporting grounds and keen sports teachers encouraged students to participate in a range of games and join organized competitions. Sports for the wider population took off only after the Second World War with the formation of the Amateur Sports Federation of Hong Kong in 1949/50, recognized as an Olympic Committee in 1951. Many sports associations have since formed and joined the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong (ASF&OC). In 1997, the "amateur" status of the ASF&OC was removed, a change that coincided with the retirement of Mr A. de O. Sales, president of the federation for 30 years. The Quest for Gold is a collection of articles on various aspects on the development of sports in Hong Kong during the 50-year history of the ASF&OC. Interspersed throughout are historical photographs, rare official documents, and personal anecdotes. The invaluable contributions of individuals and groups in Hong Kong to promote and participate in sports are all recounted here. This is the story of Hong Kong's quest for gold.