The announcement coincides with a change in the government's policy on birth control to encourage families to have three children.

The 1996 Olympic windsurfing champion, better known as ``San San'', revealed that she is expecting a child this summer.

She said her focus will be on the baby as she has not decided whether to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games.

``There is time for me to enjoy another event in life,'' Lee, 34, said. ``I have not decided on my future career plan. If I decided to continue as an athlete, I would compete in the Olympics. Right now, my focus will be the baby.''

Asked if she will train her child to be a windsurfer, she said: ``I will not force my children to become athletes, but they must learn to swim, which is a survival skill.''

Regarding the government's call for parents to have at least three children, Lee said she must find out if she can be a good mother first. ``If I am not an appropriate mother, it would not be right for me to have two or three children. It would be unfair to them,'' she said.

However, her husband and trainer Sam Wong was not worried about Lee and motherhood.

`` She inherited good blood from her mother, who had 10 children,'' he said. ``I am not a bit worried about San San giving birth.''

On her decision to prepare for the Beijing Games, Lee said others have continued windsurfing after having children and that she was no exception.

Lee reached the pinnacle of success at the 1996 Atlanta Games, but finished sixth in Sydney four years later.

Stomach problems knocked her out of other competitions and, at one time, forced her to consider early retirement.

Lee returned to compete in Athens last year and although she failed to win a medal after being disqualified in one of the 11 windsurfing races, she remains one of Hong Kong's most popular athletes.

``Some members of the public still welcomed me home at the airport even though I did not perform to their expectations at the Olympics.

``They gave me a lift when I most needed it,'' she said after returning from Greece.

Since 1975, the Family Planning Association has been plugging the line that ``Two is Enough'' for every family, meaning the number of children.

However, Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang said Monday that two is definitely not enough considering Hong Kong's shrinking birth rate. He urged married couples to consider having three children.

staff.reporter@singtaonewscorp.com