Covid-19 crisis: group calls for judicial review of Hong Kong government’s closure of sports facilities as coaches struggle to survive
- The group comprises mostly tennis enthusiasts and professionals, though they hope their action will benefit all sports in Hong Kong
- Ex-player Andy Brothers wants to know why some businesses are still open while sports facilities are closed during third wave of Covid-19 infections
A group of industry stakeholders are hoping to rally the Hong Kong sporting community to launch a judicial review of the government’s “arbitrary and inequitable” closure of sports facilities during the third wave of Covid-19 infections, saying it has destroyed a sector that employs thousands of coaches.
Andy Brothers, a former Hong Kong Davis Cup tennis player and private sports club operator, said the group wanted to open a dialogue with the government on a viable long-term plan for the Hong Kong sports industry, given that Covid-19 is likely to remain a threat for the foreseeable future.
He said “non-essential” retail and other businesses have remained open while sports and recreation facilities that help Hongkongers maintain physical and mental well-being are closed.
“We are now preparing to apply for a judicial review of the government’s arbitrary and inequitable use of its powers under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap 599), and will shortly be commencing a crowd fund campaign to fund this action,” Brothers said.
“We want to know how the government decides on which businesses may remain open and which businesses must close, and when such closures take place, i.e. during which part of a cycle and at what severity of Covid-19 spikes in Hong Kong.