A furious Hong Kong team official yesterday slammed reports that a mystery 'flu epidemic was sweeping through the SAR squad.
Con Conway, deputy chef de mission of the Hong Kong delegation, branded reports of illnesses in the Hong Kong camp as a 'sensationalised tissue of utterly scurrilous lies'.
'The word is that we've all got bubonic plague and the death toll is up to a couple of hundred,' Conway remarked dryly yesterday. 'Next thing you know they'll be telling us that aliens have landed in the athletes village,' he added, before expressing his ''deep concern' over the reports.
'The whole delegation wishes to make it plain that we are furious with these stories. It is harmful to the team and doesn't help anyone,' Conway said.
He confirmed three athletes in the 300-strong Hong Kong party had been struck down by a stomach bug - but said this figure was 'not exceptional'.
'The facts are that three athletes . . . have had diarrhea and complained of upset stomachs.