HK weightlifting body sorry after new Ip blunder

The Hong Kong Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association has apologized after chairwoman Josephine Ip Wing-yuk "inadvertently" referred to Hong Kong and Taiwan as countries, saying she was not trying to promote independence.

The gaffe happened when Ip delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Asian Equipped Powerlifting Championship cum Asian University Cup 2024 on May 6 at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai.

"This time, we have lifters and officials from 13 countries ..." Ip said, without naming them.

Hong Kong and Taiwan athletes took part in the competition, which ended on Saturday.

This is not the first time Ip's remarks raised eyebrows. She called Hong Kong "a small country" in another event in March. The association said it was "a slip of the tongue."

In a statement yesterday, the association apologized for the new miscue, explaining that Ip had originally wrote in her speech that "there are lifters and officials from 16 countries/regions" participating in the competition."

However, only athletes from 13 countries and two regions turned up, the association said.

"Chairwoman Ip found out that the actual number of participating teams was inconsistent with the numbers on her script, and also found the sentence too long, so she simplified it into 13 countries, and mistakenly failed to say 'and two regions,' " it added.

"It was serious negligence for not mentioning 'and two regions' and causing a misunderstanding."

The association said it has already submitted a report to the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China.

"The intention of Ip's speech was not to point out that Hong Kong and Taiwan are countries, nor was it to spread the idea of Hong Kong independence. We sincerely apologize for causing the misunderstanding," the association said.

"The association and Ip will be even more careful while dealing with speeches made in public ... to prevent similar incidents from happening."

The government said Ip's explanation was "absolutely unacceptable" and "grossly inconsistent" with the fact that delegations from Hong Kong and Taiwan participated as regional teams.

"It gives rise to suspected violation of the one-China principle," the government said.

It added that it attaches great importance to the series of mistakes in various gravity made by the association.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com