This screenshot made from a video shows players of Hong Kong and Iran during a match at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Feb 28, 2023.

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has reiterated its support for the decision of the city’s top sports federation to start the process to suspend the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association over a national anthem blunder during an international competition in late February.

A spokesman for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau issued a statement on Saturday reiterating the HKSAR government's backing for the commencement of the process to suspend the HKIHA’s membership in the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC).

“The HKSAR government and the SF&OC have the same objective to find out the reason for the error and improve the HKIHA's corporate governance,” the statement reads. 

'The government subsidy on ice hockey athletes' training and competition will not be affected regardless of the final decision upon the completion of investigation,” it added.

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At the Ice Hockey World Championship on Feb 28 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a song linked to Hong Kong’s 2019 anti-government protests was played instead of the national anthem for the Hong Kong team.

The SF&OC has requested the HKIHA to provide a full written explanation about the incident and to submit a plan of improvement on corporate governance.