Junius Ho 'astonished' By Cancellation Of Races

Pro-Beijing legislator Junius Ho said he was "shocked" to learn that the Jockey Club had called off Wednesday night's meeting at Happy Valley after protesters threatened to disrupt the event due to the fact a horse co-owned by Ho was running.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Ho said Jockey Club management had contacted a co-owner of the horse earlier in the day and expressed its concerns.

However Ho said there was no request for the horse, Hong Kong Bet, to be withdrawn from the meeting, and no suggestion that the whole event would be cancelled.

"Same as all Hong Kong racing fans, residents and the world-wide racing circles, we were astonished by such announcement," Ho said in the statement.

"Indeed a lot of people are deeply regretted about such decision being taken and are worried about the negative impact that may bring to Hong Kong racing and Hong Kong as an international city, as well as a leader in the horse racing world. I fully endorse these worries."

The Jockey Club had said the meeting was called off due to "possible social unrest" in the area and wanted to preserve the safety of the public and its employees, as well as the welfare of horses.

Anti-extradition protesters have targetted Ho for several reasons. Some accuse him of links to a mob that carried out a violent attack on people returning from a protest and members of the public arriving by MTR in the lawmaker's home town of Yuen Long on July 21.

Ho has also campaigned against school pupils taking part in classroom boycotts in support of the anti-extradition movement's five demands, and has also urged supporters to "clean up" so-called Lennon Walls, on which people display pro-democracy slogans, on Saturday.