Non-affiliated legislator Timothy Fok Tsun-ting said yesterday he hoped that the stand-off over the US spy plane in Hainan would not affect Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympics. Mr Fok, president of the Amateur Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, said: 'These are two separate matters. I think they should be treated separately.' He said China and the United States were showing restraint over the issue, and he hoped the stand-off would be dealt with through normal diplomatic channels. His comments come amid opposition from some international pressure groups for Beijing to host the Olympics. The groups are critical of China's poor record on protecting human rights. It was agreed at a recent meeting of the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong that Mr Fok should write to the International Olympic Committee to appeal for it to uphold the spirit of separating politics from sport and to make its decision in accordance with the bid cities' merits. A decision will be made in July on which of the five bid cities - Beijing, Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka - will host the 2008 Olympics.