Hong Kong runner Wong Ho-chung loses Chinese award nomination for ‘online speech harmful to the motherland’s unification’
- Hong Kong’s top runner has his nomination taken from him as tensions continue to escalate between Hong Kong and mainland China because of protests
Hong Kong’s top runner, Wong Ho-chung, has lost his Outdoor Golden Rhino Award nomination for trail runner of the year because of an online interview deemed anti-mainland China. The local hero was interviewed after he saved victims of last year’s Yuen Long attacks. He told the SCMP he was not taking political sides.
Wong’s nomination was taken away for “publishing online speech harmful to the motherland’s unification”. The Outdoor Golden Rhino Awards recognise achievement in outdoor sports and sustainability in China. They have been going since 2006.
According to local media, Wong requested to be referred to as Hong Kong-Chinese, rather than simply Chinese, at the awards. He apparently included “add oil” at the bottom of his request.
One interview in particular has surfaced - following his heroics in Yuen Long, when he and his wife entered the MTR to save victims on the night of the attacks.
On July 21, men in white T-shirts stormed into the MTR and indiscriminately beat passengers, many of whom were returning from anti-government protests.
Wong, a firefighter, and his wife, Viann, a nurse, went to Yuen Long to help the victims after they woke up around 11pm that night and saw a live stream of the attacks. “I have to help. Otherwise I will not forgive myself,” he said.