Under International Olympic Committee rules, athletes taking part in the Olympic Games must have the passport of the country they wish to represent. Chang, 36, who will have lived for seven years in Hong Kong by August 8, 2008 - when the Beijing Games open - holds a US passport.

'I took part in the Asian Games, which is based on the IOC's Olympic Charter, and eligibility for these games is essentially the same as for the Olympics. On these grounds, I think I'm in a different situation to the others,' Chang says. 'By letting me compete last December in Doha I would hope I already qualify as a Hong Kong athlete.'

Hong Kong Olympic Committee secretary general Pang Chung has already gone on record as saying that getting dispensation for the equestrian team will pose a big challenge. Pang was confident other athletes, such as swimmer Hannah Wilson, who holds a British passport, and a handful of table tennis players, originally from the mainland, should have no problems going to Beijing as they had already taken part in the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Chang believes she is in a similar situation, having taken part in Doha. 'Prior to the Asian Games, the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation liaised with the Hong Kong Olympic Committee on my behalf, and my eligibility was accepted and I represented Hong Kong in Doha without controversy. I hope this matter can also be resolved quickly,' said Chang.

'I have lived in Hong Kong since 2001 and have every intention of becoming a permanent resident next year. My dad was born in Shanghai and always encouraged me to live in Hong Kong, and my grandfather was a career diplomat and China's ambassador to Poland, Portugal and Czechoslovakia in the 1930s and 40s.

'My family has long, deep ties to Hong Kong, and China,' said Chang.

Chang, the overseas-based Arum Gregory (who also took part in the Asian Games), Jennifer Lee and Charlotte Morse are four out of the six riders who do not hold Hong Kong SAR passports. Along with Gaelle Tong and Kenneth Cheng Man-kit, they are attempting to go where no local rider has gone before - the Olympics.

'This has been my dream ever since I was a teenager growing up in Oregon in the United States,' Chang said. 'I never thought I would come close to taking part in the Olympics, but I have been given a chance with Hong Kong hosting the 2008 event and as such being offered a wild card.

'This is an amazing opportunity for Hong Kong. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local riders. Without these wild cards, we would have no chance at all of taking part. It would be a shame if, as hosts, we didn't have a Hong Kong athlete in the equestrian events,' said Chang.

Hong Kong, as well as China, has been offered four spots in the show-jumping event, one for dressage and one for eventing. But these places are not automatic and the athletes have to qualify by achieving a 'certificate of capability' (COC).

Chang has set her mind on getting a COC. She resigned from her job as a real estate business development executive before the Asian Games, and is devoting her time and efforts on priming her qualifying campaign.

'I'm pursuing corporate sponsors as this is an expensive sport. But all this uncertainty hanging over my eligibility does not help. I'm in a catch-22 situation as I'm not able to generate sponsorship funding without having my eligibility cleared. And time is running out fast,' said Chang.

Luckily her husband has been supportive - despite the uncertainty - and acquired Luxor a couple of months ago in Germany. Although still unproven in the heat of competition, Chang is upbeat about her new horse who is stabled in Malaysia.

'I rode Luc Skywalker at the Asian Games. I was disappointed with my performance, finishing way down the list. But I hope to turn this around and I feel confident I can, especially as I have a new horse in Luxor.'

At the Asian Games, the show-jumping event has fences between 1.40 metres and 1.50m. In the Olympics, the bar is raised to a minimum height of 1.60m. Riders have to complete 15 jumps a round.

The road ahead is fraught with obstacles, but Chang remains undaunted. She will initially take part in the Asian qualifiers for the 2008 World Cup. The first four such events will be held in Kuala Lumpur in July-August followed by four more in Hong Kong in September-October. If Chang finishes at the top of the standings, she will win a berth to the World Cup.

While the World Cup has no bearing on the Olympics, Chang says if she does well at the Asian qualifiers, there might be a case for Hong Kong asking the International Equestrian Federation - the world governing body - whether it could host a couple of the Olympic qualifying events.

'This would help us local riders a great deal. Instead of having to go to Europe to win our COCs, we can do it at home. Our expenses would come down considerably and it will be easier on the pocket,' Chang explained.

The funding to mount a serious campaign can run into millions of US dollars if you take into account that riders need a good horse.

'It is getting awfully close to the cut-off point. We need to know soon whether we are eligible or not,' said Chang.