‘Slip of the tongue’: weightlifting and powerlifting association apologises after chairwoman calls Hong Kong ‘small country’
- Association says chairwoman Josephine Ip’s remarks not intended to advocate Hong Kong independence, adding whole world knows city is part of China
- Lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho describes what Ip said as ‘unacceptable’ especially after enactment of new domestic national security law
Hong Kong’s weightlifting and powerlifting association has apologised for creating “misunderstandings and disputes” after its chairwoman mistakenly called the city “a relatively small country”.
A spokeswoman for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau on Monday also said the government was highly concerned, adding the Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, had requested a report from the association over the matter.
Chairwoman Josephine Ip Wing-yuk of the Hong Kong, China Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association made the slip-up in a speech at the opening ceremony of the “Hong Kong Weightlifting Invitation 2024” on Sunday.
Lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong of the New People’s Party uploaded Ip’s speech to social media shortly afterwards, saying such remarks on “Hong Kong independence” were “unacceptable”, especially after the enactment of the city’s new domestic national security law.
“I urge the government to seriously follow this up and ask the Olympic committee to suspend the membership of the Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association and fully investigate the incident,” he said.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the association apologised for what it called “a slip of the tongue”.
It said Ip was instead hoping to say that the International Weightlifting Federation would allow associations “in smaller countries or places” to manage more than one sport.
“The whole world knows Hong Kong is not a country but a part of China,” it added, stressing Ip’s remarks were not intended to advocate the city’s independence.
The association said it strongly supported the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, and the “one China” policy.
‘Historic moment’: Hong Kong passes Article 23 law after marathon session
“The association opposes all actions that secede from the motherland and fully safeguards sovereignty, security and development interests of our country,” it said.
Hong Kong’s Olympic committee said following its exchanges with the association that it agreed it was a slip of the tongue and acknowledged the group had already issued a public apology.
The committee said it would remind all sports associations that they must not be “ambiguous” over their remarks on national sovereignty and the “one country, two systems” governing principle while taking part in events.
A police spokeswoman said behaviour and activities that endangered national security were very serious crimes, noting they must be prevented, stopped and punished in accordance with the law.
“Whether certain actions will violate the Hong Kong national security law or the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will depend on the relevant circumstances, including the facts, relevant actions and intentions, evidence obtained and other factors,” she said.
The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, mandated under Article 23 of the Basic Law, came into force on Saturday after an expedited scrutiny by the legislature.
The legislation, which will complement the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 after the civil unrest a year before, covers 39 offences divided into five categories: treason; insurrection, incitement to mutiny and disaffection and acts with seditious intention; sabotage; external interference; and theft of state secrets and espionage.
Separately, several athletes earlier this month accused the association of withholding their funding, charging excessive coaching fees and failing to appropriately develop the sport, prompting lawmaker Ho to call for the government to step in. The association has rejected the claims.
