Hong Kong’s sports association has been ordered to include “China” in its name.Otherwise, you will lose government funding and the right to represent the city.

Some officials also believe the Olympic Committee’s change of stance is linked to a national anthem disturbance late last year when the wrong song was played at a rugby tournament involving Hong Kong’s men’s sevens team. I’m here.

“If your association continues to represent Hong Kong in international sporting events and activities, you must include the words ‘Hong Kong, China’ in your association name,” Yang wrote.

“Also, remember to use the name ‘Hong Kong, China’ when participating in international sporting events and activities and display it on uniforms, websites and all other publicity materials as appropriate. Please give me.”

Yang told the Post that failing to join a group such as the Hong Kong Chinese Swimming Association, which was renamed last year, could jeopardize government support.

“Since 1997, Hong Kong has become part of China as a special administrative region, so we are obligated to use the name ‘Hong Kong, China,'” Yang said. “Over the years, only a few NSAs have made changes, so it’s time to ask them to follow the procedures.

“Many of these NSA’s use public funding from the government and it should be their responsibility to use proper organization names. If they don’t want to change, they’ve been in Hong Kong, China since 1999.” You should get away from the Olympic Committee that has been named after you.”

Individual sports cannot participate in major multisport events such as the Olympics or the Asian Games without being a member of the Olympic Committee.

Emily Mack, executive director of Hong Kong Squash, said she didn’t think any government agency would risk losing its right to represent the city by not complying, but the name change wasn’t so easy.

“But the process is much more than just renaming the organization. It also involves a number of follow-up activities, such as communications with national and international banks and other organizations. We need to talk to them and see how we can do that.”

Groups must call an Extraordinary General Assembly if they wish to change their name, as this involves amending their ‘Statutes’ and possibly permission from the World Governing Body.

HKFA president Pui Kuangcai said the organization has been using the name since 1914 and is also a member of international governing bodies such as FIFA and the Asian Football Federation.

“If we need to change the name of the organization, we have to discuss it internally,” he said. “The use of Hong Kong and China after the handover is a big trend, but this is a serious problem.

Tensions between Hong Kong and China in football have run high since the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, when Hong Kong fans booed China’s national anthem at home games.

Sources said the HKFA was under pressure from mainland China’s sports authorities to change the name.

Vivian Lau Cheng Chu, president of the Hong Kong Tenping Bowling Congress, believed the Olympic Committee was reacting to the controversy over the national anthem.

We have downplayed the issue by using only Hong Kong, Chinese names ‘when necessary,'” she said. “However, after recent events, authorities are more careful about using the correct name for Hong Kong sports.”

At the Asian Rugby Sevens Series in Incheon, South Korea in November, Glory to Hong Kong, a song closely associated with social unrest in 2019, was mistakenly broadcast as the Chinese national anthem for the Hong Kong side before the final. .