HONG KONG — Seven years after completing a grueling 45-kilometer circumnavigation swim around Hong Kong Island, actor and singer Alex Fong is returning to the open sea. On November 19, he will attempt a 35-kilometer charity swim from Lantau Island to Macau’s Black Sand Beach, raising funds for the InspireHK Sports Foundation.
The event, dubbed the “Alex Fong Hong Kong-Macau Charity Swim 2026,” aims to provide equal access to sports for underprivileged children and those with special educational needs. Fong, who became a father late last year, said his motivation has shifted from personal ambition to a deeper sense of purpose.
“I’m doing this for the next generation,” Fong said in a recent interview. “I want my daughter to one day see that her father completed this feat, and understand the importance of giving back to society.”
Fong has been training intensively for the challenge, which he describes as far more demanding than his 2017 circumnavigation. While shorter in distance, the route requires swimming through open sea and crossing three distinct marine zones with varying currents, winds, and tides. He estimates the swim will take roughly nine hours.
“That swim was about willpower and bravado,” Fong explained. “This time, it’s about endurance and strategy. The conditions are unpredictable. I’m honestly not sure I can finish, but I’ll give it everything I have.”
To prepare, Fong has shifted from pool-based speed work to long-distance ocean training. He now swims two to three hours daily and plans to complete 10- to 20-kilometer open-water sessions before race day. He acknowledged that physical conditioning will be critical. “I have to manage my energy carefully,” he said. “I can’t just rely on adrenaline.”
Fong’s family will not accompany him on the support boat. His wife, Maple, who suffers from seasickness, will stay home with their daughter. His elderly parents will also remain onshore. “The best support is knowing they’re waiting for me, safe and sound,” he said.
The swim is scheduled to begin at Chi Kok Kok on Lantau Island’s southwestern tip and end at Macau’s Hac Sa Beach. Organizers will monitor weather, sea state, and tides closely to ensure safety.
For Fong, the event is both a personal milestone and a message to his young daughter. During a recent promotional video shoot with children from the foundation, he said he found himself imagining his own child at their age. “I just want her to grow up happy and healthy,” he said. “Seeing these kids reminds me what this is all about.”
If successful, Fong will become one of the few Hong Kong celebrities to complete back-to-back long-distance open-water swims for charity. The funds raised will support InspireHK’s programs, which use sport to build confidence, develop potential, and help children from disadvantaged backgrounds chase their dreams.
With the swim just weeks away, Fong said he remains focused on pacing himself—and on the future he hopes to inspire. “I’m no longer just the young man chasing glory,” he said. “I’m a father now. This swim is for her.”
Editor’s note: For more information or to donate, visit the InspireHK Sports Foundation website. Readers interested in open-water swimming safety may consult the Hong Kong Amateur Swimming Association’s guidelines on long-distance swims.
