Pang said the Hong Kong delegation turned down a request by the Games organisation to hold the flag-raising event on Thursday, which is the day of the opening ceremony.

''They wanted us to have it on Thursday but we explained to them that we have a very tough schedule on that day and it would be difficult,'' said Pang.

''On the two days before the opening ceremony, myself and Mr Sales will be involved in a lot of general meetings.

''In his capacity, he must sit at many meetings and cannot miss them. But our flag-raising ceremony cannot take place without the head of the delegation.'' He said the only other day to hold the ceremony was yesterday, although many other countries have also applied to stage their own flag-raisers at the same time.

''We have not heard anything from the organisers yet,'' added Pang. ''It is Hong Kong's last Commonwealth Games and we hope we can raise our flag as soon as possible.'' Hong Kong will cease to be a part of the Commonwealth once the territory reverts to Chinese rule in 1997.

Sales said yesterday that he would leave the flag-raising duties with Pang.

He said: ''The 15th seems the only time we can have it but it is not yet confirmed. I have other meetings on this day as well.'' It is the second time that problems have plagued Hong Kong's ceremony.

At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Hong Kong officials and athletes were shocked when the wrong flag was raised. Embarrassed Seoul organisers were quick to react and the proper Hong Kong flag was soon fluttering over the village.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong athletes continued to trickle into Victoria with the last batch expected to arrive today.

The lawn bowls team were expected to reach Victoria late last night (Canadian time) with the swimmers and badminton players due today.

Pang reported of a generally healthy Hong Kong team with no major injuries so far.

The Hong Kong cyclists were finally entered into the team list after an earlier computer glitch resulted in the four-man squad being missing from the territory's 53-strong roster.

Riders Wong Kam-po, Hung Chung-yam, Hui Chak-bor and Chan Lung are also expected to arrive in Victoria today from a training stint in Edmonton.

But the cyclists, who will compete in the 100-kilometre team time trial and the individual road race, may have difficulty training for the event in Victoria.

Victoria government officials have asked the Games organisers to keep the cyclists off the road prior to the competition for safety reasons.

Pang, who was at a meeting of team chiefs, said: ''Basically, there are cyclists training on highways which have a speed limit of 80 km/h.

''The cyclists are travelling at about 40 km/h and apart from causing traffic problems, is quite dangerous. So they have been told to get off the road.'' The Hong Kong cyclists will be the first athletes to return to the territory whatever the outcome of their races.

The team time trial is on Saturday morning while the road race will be held two days later.

The rest of the cycling programme, from August 24 to 27, is at the velodrome in the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.

Hong Kong have not been entered for any of the track cycling events.