Swimming association agrees to meeting following criticism

Michael Shum

A meeting has been scheduled between the city's swimming association, lawmaker Adrian Ho King-hong, and singer Alex Fong Lik-sun to discuss the association's denial of a talented nine-year-old swimmer from Fong's swimming club to participate in the year-end championship.

The nine-year-old swimmer of a swimming club co-founded by Fong was not allowed to join the year-end championship as Fong's club was in the lowest tier of affiliated clubs within the Hong Kong China Swimming Association.

In response to media inquiries, Ho from the New People's Party said he was able to reach the association's president, Ronnie Wong Man-chiu, who agreed to the meeting with association representatives, Fong, and Ho.

"The meeting will discuss arrangements for the nine-year-old to join the competition, as well as review the association's current system," Ho said.

Wong denied refusing to communicate with Fong and said he was busy but intended to contact Fong to understand the incident further.

"Wong stressed that the association has an open attitude for the young swimmer to join the competition and promised to arrange the meeting shortly," Ho said.

Ho also wrote to the government's Cultural, Sports and Tourism Bureau after Fong complained about difficulties renting swimming lanes, which appear to be "monopolized" by larger clubs. Ho plans to review these issues in a Legislative Council panel meeting and demand an explanation from the bureau.

Separately, sports, performing arts, culture and publication sector lawmaker Kenneth Fok Kai-kong said the swimming association has room for improvement in its athlete selection process.

Fok believes the selection should prioritize the best interests of the athletes and will follow up the matter within the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, which oversees the swimming association.