HONGKONG'S Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee and the territory's most powerful man in sport, Mr A. de O. Sales, last night threw their weight behind Beijing's bid to hold the Olympic Games in year 2000.
''Time is due to give Hongkong's position on the 2000 Olympic bid, and because of our political status we must inevitably side with China,'' said Mr Sales, who as well as being president of the local sports authorities is also chairman of the influentialCommonwealth Games Federation.
Hongkong has no voting rights in the International Olympic Committee board which will choose the host of the 2000 Games but support from Mr Sales could swing decisive votes Beijing's way.
Thirteen members of the IOC are due to pass through Hongkong next month on their way to the mainland, having just finished examining the bid being mounted by Sydney.
Mr Sales said last night he would try to persuade the group to back Beijing's bid when the final votes are cast in Monte Carlo on September 23.
''Even in 1973, in the days of the Cold War, I telegramed Beijing from Christchurch, New Zealand, urging them to join the IOC with the full backing of the Commonwealth countries,'' said Mr Sales.