Hong Kong's chief executive designate Tung Chee-hwa has appointed the Sports Development Board (SDB) to oversee the territory's participation in this year's All-China Games in Shanghai. SDB chief executive Andrew Ma said yesterday Hong Kong would be represented by 200 to 300 athletes and officials at the October Games, the territory's largest-ever contingent for a multi-sport event. Ma also hit back at the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong (ASF&OC) for refusing to assist SDB officials in gaining accreditation for the East Asian Games, saying the board still intends to send a fact-finding team to Pusan. Earlier this year China invited Hong Kong to compete in the National Games despite the territory technically retaining sporting autonomy after the handover on July 1. Two months ago, Tung threw his support behind Hong Kong participation, brushing aside fears the territory could jeopardise its separate status by competing in the Games. Said Ma: 'We received official notice from the office of C. H. Tung, appointing the SDB to co-ordinate Hong Kong's participation in the All-China Games. This will be a major historical event for Hong Kong sport. 'Our initial estimate is anywhere between 200 and 300 athletes and officials. 'Because this is the first time Hong Kong will be taking part in these Games, China has graciously waived all qualification requirements for Hong Kong athletes.' It means Hong Kong can apply a softer selection policy in choosing athletes and teams to compete against the best from China. 'The one problem is, where do you draw the line?' said Ma. 'In individual events you can measure time or distance, but that is not the case with team sports.' He said one of the aims of the SDB's trip to Pusan was with regard to the territory's involvement in the All-China Games. Ma denied the trip had anything to do with the SDB researching a possible Hong Kong bid for the East Asian Games or the Asian Games, which is the role of the ASF&OC. 'We know that bidding for Games is none of our business,' said Ma, who added that the ASF&OC displayed typical disdain for the SDB. 'We are very disappointed at repeated denials by the ASF&OC for us for major games. 'We have it on record that the only time the SDB was represented was at the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing with Howard Wells [former SDB chief executive] and William Purves [former SDB chairman]. In the seven years since, we have not had the courtesy of any invitations. We finance the Hong Kong athletes and have legitimate claims to attend.' Ma said he wrote a letter to ASF&OC president A. de O. Sales in January 1996, seeking accreditation for the Olympic Games in Atlanta, but received no reply. 'The ASF&OC has repeatedly denied our requests by ignoring us. This happened to me for the Olympics. I did not even receive the courtesy of a reply.' On Tuesday, Hong Kong Games chef de mission Pang Chung accused the SDB of undermining the ASF&OC's authority by going straight to Korean organisers for accreditation. The SDB applied to the Korean Sports Council, which passed on the requests to Games organisers. Ma responded: 'We knew we were late, but we have always been ignored so we had to go through the only body with which we have contact. 'We want to make Hong Kong a city of events, so we feel it is important that we attend these important Games to see how big events are organised and learn from them.' SDB director Ip Hay-wood, sports manager Margaret Siu and senior official Patrick Ho are expected to attend the last few days of the Games in Pusan. Ma will remain in Hong Kong. Dr Dennis Whitby, the Hong Kong Sports Institute director, is already in Pusan with the required accreditation.
