Hong Kong ice hockey under scrutiny by government unit after investigation into use of public funds
- Officials said Mike Kan, president of Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association, broke guidelines covering family members while on an official trip with the team
- The Hong Kong ice hockey community has long been at odds with the HKIHA, blaming the body for what they say is a lack of progress in local standards
The government’s unit for overseeing sport said it could withhold funding from the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association (HKIHA) after an investigation showed the body’s president may have used public funds for personal use.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department, which is part of the Home Affairs Bureau, said it found one occasion when association president Mike Kan Yeung-kit used government funds for accommodation during an official overseas event.
“According to the LCSD’s investigation, an immediate family member of Mr Kan, who had paid for her own flight tickets, did travel with the team in LCSD subsidised overseas events,” officials said in a statement.
“It was also revealed that the accommodation where Mr Kan and his family member stayed, except in one occasion, was provided by the host and did not involve the use of government subsidies.
“Having said that, use of government subsidy to accommodate any non-event related personnel was considered improper, appropriate action would be taken against HKIHA for such malpractice in accordance with the prevailing guidelines, including but not limited to adversely affecting the level of subsidy provided to the NSA in subsequent years.”
