Cheung Doi-ching, chief representative in the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, flew to Dublin on Friday to conduct the negotiations on behalf of the Home Affairs Bureau. He went into a second meeting with officials of the Irish Health Ministry yesterday, which lasted about three hours.

Even though the announcement was made after midnight in Hong Kong, local officials were waiting up for the news. They were overjoyed to hear that the ban against their team had been lifted.

'I'm happy for the Hong Kong Special Olympics team,' said Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho, who has been behind the lobbying efforts with the Irish government.

He expressed 'great admiration for our athletes, who had to endure weeks of frustration'.

Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, president of the Hong Kong Olympic Committee, said: 'I'm overjoyed. After weeks of uncertainty, our athletes can participate in the Games.'

The Irish government has lived up to expectations as a host, he said.

In a statement issued by the Irish government after the talks, it said: 'Representatives of the Irish government met with an official representing the secretary for Home Affairs from Hong Kong today.

'The Hong Kong official presented a proposal which took into consideration the recommendation of the Irish experts group [which originally recommended the ban] to enable the Hong Kong Special Olympics delegates to attend the Games.

'The proposal was considered in detail. The Irish government indicated to the Hong Kong authorities that the proposal as set out is acceptable in terms of its conformity with the criteria as set out by the expert committee.'

Dr Ho said he would participate in today's farewell party for the athletes, which was being organised by the Irish community and is being held at the Island Shangri-La.

He also expressed his thanks to the team's fans and well-wishers, as well as the Irish community in Hong Kong for their support of the athletes.

It is not yet known when the team will depart for Macau, but it will have to be before Wednesday to meet the 10-day requirement.

The team had been banned because Hong Kong remains on the World Health Organisation's list of Sars-infected areas. An Irish government-appointed committee had until last night refused to lift the ban, even though the WHO had lifted its travel advisory against Hong Kong.

Mr Fok said both the Hong Kong government and his committee had been working on 'every possible way to persuade the Irish government to lift the ban.'