It started along Tai Mong Tsai Road near the gate of the country park management centre and continued towards the High Island Reservoir before turning right along Sai Kung Man Yee Road.

Runners had to turn around at Po Pin Chau and pass the finish line at the junction of Sai Kung Man Yee Road and Sai Kung Sai Wan Road.

Gi retained the title he won in January this year after taking an outright lead shortly after the 8km turnaround point.

He clocked 51 minutes, 49 seconds - nine seconds faster than his own best time over the route.

Finishing second overall was Andy Naylor (53:25) while Chan Ka-ho (53:49) was third.

The event took place mainly on hilly roads and runners had to endure some tough terrain, but the route suited Gi just fine.

Gi said he preferred running on hilly routes since he had done most of his training on slopes.

'I'm happy to have clocked a new record for the route in clinching my third consecutive title. Everything went well,' said Gi, who won the men's senior category as well as the men's overall championship.

Competition was keen in the women's category even without defending champion Leung Ying-suet, the Hong Kong 15km women's record holder, who skipped the race because of injury.

The women's overall title went to Lai Ka-wai.

The 39-year-old grabbed the lead in the final 300 metres and crossed the finish line in 1:03.42, ahead of 19-year-old Yiu Kit-ching, who took home the women's junior title in 1:03.51.