‘We are Hong Kong’ – whether it’s Commonwealth Games or China National Games, says Auckland 1990 gold medallist Chan Chi-choi

Don’t try to put a political tag on us – the honour is the same whether it is the Commonwealth Games or the China National Games, said Chan Chi-choi who won Hong Kong’s last gold medal as a British colony at the 1990 Games in Auckland.

With the 2018 Commonwealth Games kicking off on the Gold Coast, Australia on Wednesday, Hong Kong’s participation in the Games is already a distant memory. It was at the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada where Hong Kong bid farewell and since the handover in 1997 the city’s athletes have instead competed in the China National Games.

“To most of the athletes, we are doing the same for any major games, having the best preparation we can and striving for honour for Hong Kong,” said Chan, who with his partner, Amy Chan Lim-chee, won the mixed doubles gold for Hong Kong in Auckland.

It was also the last of the five gold medals Hong Kong have ever won at the Games as a former British colony since their debut in 1934. Hong Kong won their first gold in the men’s fours in lawn bowl at the 1970 Commonwealth Games before taking two more bowls medals (men’s fours and doubles) eight years later.

“Indeed, the chance of competing in major games back in those days were very limited and therefore we treasured every opportunity. Whether it was the Commonwealth Games or the National Games, we are representing Hong Kong and never thought about issues such as whether we were from the British colony or a special administrative region as we walk on to the court.”