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Hannah and Jasmine
640km of fortitude and endurance

(Hong Kong, 19 February, 2017) Shantou University’s first rowing expedition team comprises of 20 students, 10 young men on board Hannah and 10 young women on board Jasmine.  The rowers embarked on their amazing eight-day challenge on 11 February.  Starting off from Shantou, they rowed through strong currents and choppy waves, passed the coastal cities of Puning, Lufeng, Shanwei, Huizhou and Shenzhen before entering Victoria Harbour on 18 February where Mr Li Ka-shing and fellow board members of Shantou University were waiting to welcome both teams to Hong Kong.

The rowing challenge sponsored by the Li Ka Shing Foundation was predominantly a training of physical and mental fortitude, learning ocean skills and the meaning of esprit de corps.

The students made several breakthroughs:

1. The challenge marked the first ocean rowing event in Asia.
2. The two R45 ocean rowboats used by the team are customised for race and the first to debut in Asia.
3. The challenge set a precedent for ocean rowing amongst universities in the world.
4. A competition-based education programme.  The 20 members of the team were rigorously chosen from a pool of 260 candidates and trained for a year and their willpower, stamina, teamwork and determination were put to the test.
5. It is also a fundraiser for environmental protection and conservation of sea turtles and mangroves.

Why choose the monikers “Hannah” and “Jasmine” for the rowboats?

In the Hebrew language, the meaning of the name Hannah is favor and grace, while Jasmine is a signature flora in China connoting purity, abundance, dignity and persistence.  Hannah and Jasmine were chosen to symbolise Sino-Israeli ties blossoming through Shantou University and Guangdong Technion Institute of Technology.

What are Mr Li Ka-shing’s views on this project?

70 years ago, Mr Li and his family fled to Hong Kong from China after Japan invaded the country.  From Chaozhou the Li family travelled 1000 km on wood gas trucks before boarding a boat to Hong Kong.  At 11 years old then, he had never seen the ocean and its crashing waves before.   Time flies like the wind, today Mr Li is determined to inspire societal improvement through long-term education initiatives.  He sees education as the basis for the advancement of human civilisation and technology, as well as the welfare and prosperity of society.

He believes that education is the cornerstone of building a future for younger generations to become mission-driven thrivers, creative, caring, intellectual engaged industrious leaders of the society. 

Besides his favourite sport golf, it is little known that Mr Li also loves the ocean and enjoy rowing.

Planning the journey

This challenge event was planned and the ocean rowing team trained by Guinness world record for fastest solo transatlantic rowing, Charlie Pitcher, and his professional coaching team.  The team went through a rigorous selection process and training.  The shear amount of physical labour that is required to row requires a strong physique and stamina, the students also needed to master swimming, rowing, navigation, seafaring and first aid to complete the challenge. Ocean rowing can also benefit personal growth in that it fosters rowers’ organisation, communications and leadership skills.













About the Li Ka Shing Foundation

Established in 1980, the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) has four core imperatives: 1) foster change, 2) empower people, 3) develop a better society, and 4) inspire societal improvement. Mr Li considers the Foundation to be his “third son” and has pledged one-third of his assets to it. To date, over HKD20 billion has been put to work to support all its initiatives across 27 countries and regions. Over 80 per cent of LKSF’s donations benefit projects in the Greater China region.

For more information, please visit: http://www.lksf.org.
Weibo: weibo.com/LKSfoundation
Twitter: twitter.com/lksf
Instagram: @lksfoundation
Youtube: www.youtube.com/lksfoundationhk

About Shantou University

STU has more than 20,000 students, 10,000 of them full-time on campus, and each year more than 2,000 graduates, of whom approximately 26 per cent are medical students.  The Li Ka Shing Foundation’s contribution to the university will reach HKD8 billion by 2018.

For more information, please visit: http://english.stu.edu.cn


For inquiries, please contact:

Li Ka Shing Foundation
Mr Jeremy Lau
Tel: +852-2128 1207
Fax: +852-2128 1766
Email: jeremy.lau@lksf.org