The Hong Kong, China National Olympic Committee last night ratified its landmark agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the territory's post-handover sporting identity.
Members of the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (ASF & OC) sanctioned the July 3 agreement following a motion proposed by Con Conway, the ASF & OC's vice-president, who acted in his capacity as president of the Hong Kong Hockey Association.
The ASF & OC president, A. de O. Sales, signed an agreement with IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch on July 3, finalising Hong Kong's sporting status under Chinese rule.
The agreement confirmed that the Olympic Committee would add 'China' to its name, and that Hong Kong would continue to compete in major sports events as a separate sporting entity.
'The resultant agreement signed by the IOC president and the ASF & OC president does credit to the Hong Kong federation for all time,' Conway said in his motion.
'Hong Kong's people should be pleased and gratified by the result. And all sports associations can now take part with pride and confidence in meetings and competitions alike, as the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong has now been recognised once again as a separate and independent sports entity, which has been so since 1951.