'Hockey Body Didn't Handle Anthem In Undignified Way'

The Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association (HKIHA) on Thursday in a report to sports officials said it did not handle the national anthem in an "undignified" way, pointing out it was never "unwilling and evasive" in its response over a blunder earlier this year.

The ice hockey body's 11-page report came after the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee (SF&OC) said it had initiated suspension proceedings against the association over an incident in which event organisers in Bosnia played a song linked to the 2019 protests instead of the March of the Volunteers.

They said the suspension would go ahead if the ice hockey body failed to provide a full explanation within a month of why it failed to follow guidelines on the playing of the anthem and to put forward proposals to enhance governance. The government said it will consider reducing subsidies in the event of a suspension.

In the latest report received by the SF&OC, the ice hockey association pointed to several attempts made by the team's leader, Annie Kwan, to verify the national anthem with organisers.

In one instance, the event organiser refused to take a USB stick storing the national anthem, after claiming that they already had a copy of the song.

HKIHA also said it has "never handled and presented the national anthem in an undignified manner".

The association added that it has responded to the SF&OC by providing details three times in March, and it was never "unwilling and evasive".

In the report, it said Kwan was "busily engaged" in the team's matters due to the lack of resources, but there is still space for improvement in handling similar issues.

HKIHA, however, did not specify details on improving its corporate governance in the report.