Expat eyeing record for swimming around Hong Kong Island wants to make splash for charity

A British expat is hoping to set a new record for swimming around Hong Kong Island in one go.

Simon Holliday, 39, a learning and development manager for a Hong Kong law firm, plans to complete the 45km route without taking a break on November 11 in a bid to raise HK$1 million for his charity Splash, which offers free swimming lessons for the city’s domestic workers and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

There is no official record for swimming around Hong Kong Island, but the challenge was first attempted by former Australian Olympic swimmer Linda McGill on May 23, 1974. The then 29-year-old swam 48km in 17 hours, complaining at the time that her main problem was “boredom and jellyfish”.

Holliday, who has lived in the city for four years, said he wanted to attempt another major swimming challenge after successfully swimming 35km from Hong Kong to Macau in 2014, as well as swimming about the same distance across the English Channel in 2011.

“It is further than I have ever swum before,” he said. “But it is not too far. We thought it would be a good way to get the message out about Splash.

“From a personal point of view, Hong Kong is my home now; I love this place and I plan to be here a lot longer. The thought of seeing my home by swimming around places like North Point and Shek O – it felt like a really nice thing to do. Although I’ll admit, I’m not sure it will be nice when I’m actually doing it!”