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Tuesday, Jun 06, 2023
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Ice hockey body under government scrutiny on use of funding
The HKSAR government said on Thursday that the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association is being reviewed on its use of government funding to identify room for improvement and ensure the proper use of public resources, on the same day the association received a written reprimand from the city’s top sports body over a national anthem blunder.
The government said in a statement today that it supports the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China’s decision to issue a written reprimand to the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association on the incident concerning the playing of the incorrect music as China’s national anthem at the Ice Hockey World Championship Division III event on February 28.
It noted that the written reprimand was an appropriate disciplinary action.
“The Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association and other national sports associations should learn from this incident. In order to safeguard national dignity, they must comply with all requirements as stipulated in the guidelines in the future and make their best endeavors to ensure the organizer plays the correct national anthem,” it wrote.
The government also said it fully supports requests from the top sports body to the association for further improving its corporate governance.
“The SF&OC is vested with both the duty and power to ensure that member national sports associations maintain good governance so as to ensure good development of their respective sports and provision of comprehensive support to athletes.
“The HKSAR Government urges the HKIHA to duly address the issues pointed out by the SF&OC and make improvements as soon as possible,” it added.
Meanwhile, the government said following up on SF&OC’s concerns, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is further reviewing the use of government funding by the association, intending to identify room for improvements and ensure the proper use of public resources.
It said the aim is to ensure that public resources are used effectively in promoting ice hockey and providing better support to athletes in their training and international competitions.
The Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association on Thursday apologized to Hong Kong and Chinese citizens, the SF&OC and the government once again for the blunder. It also thanked the SF&OC for not cutting government subsidies for its athletes.
It noted that the written reprimand was an appropriate disciplinary action.
“The Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association and other national sports associations should learn from this incident. In order to safeguard national dignity, they must comply with all requirements as stipulated in the guidelines in the future and make their best endeavors to ensure the organizer plays the correct national anthem,” it wrote.
The government also said it fully supports requests from the top sports body to the association for further improving its corporate governance.
“The SF&OC is vested with both the duty and power to ensure that member national sports associations maintain good governance so as to ensure good development of their respective sports and provision of comprehensive support to athletes.
“The HKSAR Government urges the HKIHA to duly address the issues pointed out by the SF&OC and make improvements as soon as possible,” it added.
Meanwhile, the government said following up on SF&OC’s concerns, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is further reviewing the use of government funding by the association, intending to identify room for improvements and ensure the proper use of public resources.
It said the aim is to ensure that public resources are used effectively in promoting ice hockey and providing better support to athletes in their training and international competitions.
The Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association on Thursday apologized to Hong Kong and Chinese citizens, the SF&OC and the government once again for the blunder. It also thanked the SF&OC for not cutting government subsidies for its athletes.
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