Hong Kong's 50-odd National Sports Associations (NSAs) are exempt from adding 'China' to their official titles.
Con Conway, vice-president of the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (ASF & OC), said NSAs were not obliged to change their names under an agreement signed by International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch and ASF & OC chief A. de O. Sales.
Sales and Samaranch on Thursday issued a five-point statement which finally defined Hong Kong's sporting characteristics under Chinese sovereignty.
The main point said: 'In accordance with the Basic Law, it is required to add the Country 'China' to the Region 'Hong Kong' in the designation of the Olympic Committee.' Said Conway: 'The agreement [between Samaranch and Sales], after talks with Beijing and the IOC, is basically Hong Kong sport's de facto document for the future at the highest levels.
'It requires the Olympic Committee to become the 'Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China'.
'It is utterly silent on national associations, who do not need to change their names.
'There is no requirement at all for NSAs to change their names.' He said the ASF & OC, as the umbrella organisation, was the only body required to incorporate 'China' into its name and therefore represents Hong Kong sport as a whole.
