Hong Kong sports associations told to put ‘China’ into names, or lose government funding and right to represent city
- Olympic Committee says sports associations must complete process by July or will jeopardise chances of being at Olympics and Asian Games
- Only 19 associations out of 83 have added ‘China’ into their organisation names since the city’s handover from Britain in 1997
Hong Kong’s national sports associations have been told to include ‘China’ into their official organisation names or face expulsion from the city’s Olympic Committee, a move that could result in a loss of funding and the right to take part in major competitions.
In a letter sent out to about 60 associations yet to use the designation, which includes the likes of the Hong Kong Football Association and Hong Kong Rugby Union, officials gave the governing bodies until July to make the switch.
Writing on behalf of the organisation, Edgar Yang Joe-tsi, the Olympic Committee’s honorary secretary general, cited the requirements of Article 149 the Basic Law, the city’s mini-constitution, which lays out the need to use ‘Hong Kong, China’ in dealing with international organisations.
However, the article also says that the designation be used ‘as required’, which many associations had interpreted as meaning it was not mandatory.
And some officials believe the change in the Olympic Committee’s stance is linked to the national anthem row that erupted late last year, when the wrong song was played at a rugby competition involving the Hong Kong men’s Sevens team.
“If your association will continue to represent Hong Kong in international sports competitions/activities, you are required to include the words ‘Hong Kong, China’ in your association name,” Yang wrote.
“You are also reminded to use the name ‘Hong Kong, China’ when participating in any international sports competitions/activities and to display it on uniforms, websites and all other publicity materials, where applicable.”
A failure to join the likes of Hong Kong China Swimming Association, which changed its name last year, could put government support in jeopardy, Yang told the Post.