Cyclist remembered by fellow enthusiasts
About 80 cyclists yesterday retraced the final route taken by Brendan Chiu Hsiu-hon before he was killed in a head-on collision with a minibus during a race last Sunday.
Wearing black armbands and wristbands, the cyclists, friends and team-mates of Chiu, took to Hoi Ha Road in Sai Kung in memory of the rider, 38, who died competing in the Hong Kong qualifying round of the Asian Cycling Championships.
Chiu's death has led to calls for the government to make roads safer for racing cyclists. The government says it is working with cycling organisations to deal with growing demands for safer routes for racing.
The Hong Kong Cycling Association has asked for roads to be closed during future races because of the high speeds reached by competitive cyclists and the number of cyclists taking part.
A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said: 'In the wake of the accident, we got in contact with the cycling associations to see what can be done in order to make sure that cycling races, especially on roads, can be [made] safer.'
But the cycling community reacted with outrage at the government's refusal to grant a permit for a first-aid vehicle at a race that was supposed to take place yesterday.
The Hong Kong Mountain Bike Race, due to be held at Wan Tsai Peninsula in Sai Kung, was cancelled after the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department refused to issue a permit for the first-aid motorbike.
A government spokeswoman said the department had not turned down the application for the permit.
'We only received the formal application on November 10, and while we were still considering the case they withdrew the application,' she said.
Chiu's funeral will be held tomorrow at St John's Cathedral in Central.
