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Protest pair call for 'elitism' to be driven off HK's fairways

The city was branded an elitist golfing area by two protesters outside the Hong Kong Golf Club yesterday during the third round of the Omega Hong Kong Open.

As defending champion and world No6 Padraig Harrington of Ireland and the rest of an international field took part in the US$800,000 tournament at Fanling, the two young residents called for the government to make golf more affordable.

Some golf fans, however, suggested they 'get a life'.

'The bottom 40 per cent of society in Hong Kong cannot afford to play golf. Not even at the Jockey Club's public course in Kau Sai Chau. It is beyond their means. The government or the Jockey Club should build another public course and make it free for the young and poor people of Hong Kong,' said Matt Pearce of the self-styled International Action organisation.

'We believe that only fat cat businessmen and wealthy people can afford to play golf in Hong Kong. We are here today at the Omega Hong Kong Open to protest about the elitist state of golf in Hong Kong,' said Mr Pearce.

Iain Valentine, chief executive of the Hong Kong Golf Association, rebutted the activist group's claims. He said golf was no longer an elitist sport in Hong Kong, and that his body was taking the sport to young Chinese who could not otherwise afford to play.

'Golf nowadays is certainly not an elitist sport. Our junior development programme offers free coaching, equipment and facilities to children, most of whom come from poor families,' he said.

Holding up placards that said 'Let poor people play golf', Mr Pearce handed out leaflets to fans entering the exclusive Fanling club, which has hosted the Hong Kong Open - the oldest professional sporting event in town - for the past 46 years.

'Tell him to get a life,' said one female member of the club, while other fans accepted the group's leaflets.

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