The first batch of 13 horses attending the Beijing Olympic Games's equestrian events arrived at Hong Kong on Saturday morning.

Speaking at a press briefing, Hong Kong Secretary of Home Affairs Department Tsang Tak Sing said that the transportation of the horses was smooth and they will be in quarantine for ten days.

Tsang said that the horses arrived Saturday morning came from Belgium, Holland, Denmark, South Korea and Switzerland.

The horses landed at Hong Kong at about 08:00 a.m. local time and they went through gate number six of the parking apron of Hong Kong International Airport, where they were loaded up on the Hong Kong Jockey Club's air-conditioned lorries for transportation.

According to Quarantine Officer of Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong Thomas Sit, the horses were inspected by AFCD's staff and veterinarians on the plane once they arrived.

Sit said that the horses' are at good health condition and they have been taken to the stables at Olympic equestrian venue at Shatin. The vets will keep monitoring closely to the horses health by checking them up every day.

Chief Executive Officer of Equestrian Company Lam Woon Kwong said that there will be a total of 32 horses arriving in Hong Kong on Saturday. The last batch will coming at the end of this month.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2008)