HKSAR gov't supports commencement of process to suspend local ice hockey body's membership by SF&OC

HONG KONG, April 4 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government expressed on Tuesday its support for an action taken to suspend the membership of the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association (HKIHA) over a national anthem blunder in an international match.

The HKSAR government's statement came after the Sports Federation &Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC) began relevant process to deal with the issue of the HKIHA's membership.

The HKSAR government received on March 27 the final investigation report submitted by the SF&OC on the incident concerning the playing of wrong music as the national anthem of the People's Republic of China at the Ice Hockey World Championship Division III event on Feb. 28.

The HKSAR government has examined the investigation report and discussed in detail follow-up actions with the SF&OC.

The HKIHA was requested to provide a full written explanation in relation to their non-compliance with the "Guidelines on Handling the Playing of the National Anthem and Raising of the Regional Flag for Hong Kong Athletes and Teams Engaging in International Sports Events" to handle the national anthem in a dignified manner, and submit a plan of improvement on corporate governance.

In the event that suspension of the HKIHA's membership is affirmed by the SF&OC through the passage of a special resolution, the HKSAR government will, under the premise of not affecting the athletes, consider reducing the subvention to the HKIHA correspondingly as punishment.

The HKSAR government said that the national anthem is a symbol and sign of the country and should be respected on all occasions, noting that it will impose severe sanctions for non-compliance without exception.