China’s new Hong Kong liaison office chief Zheng Yanxiong and Hong Kong's chief secretary for administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki were spotted rooting for the home team at the stand.

The team, led by former Houston Rockets star Yao Ming, arrived in Hong Kong from Shanghai on Sunday after a month of training. And the players were welcomed by enthusiastic fans at the airport, flying the Chinese national flags and clutching in their hands postcards featuring the basketball stars.

Citizens also flocked to take photos with the players and 42-year-old Yao, the president of the Chinese Basketball Association.

The 16-strong team is coached by Serbia's Aleksandar Djordjevic who took charge last November and members include center Zhou Qi from Australia's South East Melbourne Phoenix and point guard Guo Ailun from Liaoning Flying Leopards.

After tonight's victory over Kazakhstan, the Chinese men's basketball team will face Iran at 11.50am this coming Sunday (Feb 26).

According to the website of FIBA, China have qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup already, ranking second in Group F of the Asian qualification after eight wins and two losses.