Hong Kong may have celebrated 10 years of mainland rule yesterday, but Matthew Jones gave a reminder that Britain is still a force to be reckoned with by beating all the local runners in the 10th Reunification Cup at Wan Chai Gap.
Jones, who works in the chancery and deals with political and economic matters at the British Consulate, powered his way around the two-lap course on Mount Cameron to win his first race since arriving in Hong Kong just six weeks ago.
He said he was pleased to win on the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with the mainland. 'I watched the handover on TV in England 10 years ago and felt it was a very emotional moment in Britain's history,' said Jones, 29, who spent a year in Beijing learning Putonghua in preparation for his Hong Kong posting.
'At that time I didn't expect to one day live here, but this is a very exciting time to be in Hong Kong,' he said. 'In the UK there was a slight nervousness about what would happen to Hong Kong back then, but now there's a feeling of muted optimism.'
Jones ran the 8.2km course in the vest of his London running club - Thames Hare and Hounds, which is the oldest running club in the world, having been formed in 1868.
'I've already joined a local running club as I intend to run a lot while I'm here,' Jones said after winning the race in 32 minutes and 31 seconds. 'It's been quite hard to get used to the hot and humid conditions, and some of the hills are killers.'