Hong Kong government powerless after basketball players given inadequate insurance on national duty
- Players had been left with hefty medical bills after Hong Kong Basketball Association bought insurance that capped payouts too low
- ‘It is the respective national sports association which is responsible to procure suitable coverage,’ Leisure and Cultural Services Department says
 - Mike Chan.jpeg?itok=EQbwYm3R&v=1669714688)
The Hong Kong government has said it was powerless to stop basketball chiefs providing inadequate insurance cover for players representing the city overseas.
Despite bankrolling the Hong Kong Basketball Association (HKBA), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said governing bodies had a degree of autonomy when it came to selecting certain services.
The HKBA said it had acted within government guidelines, and the LCSD confirmed national sports associations (NSAs) were “given the right” to choose the coverage they deemed necessary.
“Under the existing subvention agreement, insurance is one of the expenditure items covered and it is the respective NSA which is responsible to procure suitable coverage in accordance with its need,” an LCSD spokesman said.
“Whether there is ‘minimum compensation’ provision depends on the terms and conditions of the relevant insurance policy procured by the NSAs.”
Basketball bosses said they had bought the level of coverage that capped the payout to players at HK$10,000 “on the professional advice of the insurance company”.
In response, Dah Sing Insurance, said they provided coverage “addressing customers’ needs based on their professional judgment and past experience on the injury risks for different events and activities, their affordability and the agent’s recommendation”.
The LCSD said the association was one of the city’s NSAs receiving financial support through its sports subvention scheme, and the HKBA’s performance would be reviewed at the end of the year.
During the last review in 2022, the association was advised “to be more proactive in maintaining better internal control”, an LCSD spokesman said.
Government officials said, however, that apart from issuing advisory letters and holding regular meetings to “monitor improvement progress on those shortfalls”, they had no direct jurisdiction over the overall management of an association.
Sam Wong Tak-sum, the city’s new commissioner for sports, was said to have been made aware of the insurance issues local players had been facing before he visited a training session of the Hong Kong national team on November 18.
But what was meant to be a candid discussion with players in Kwai Chung did not materialise because, according to sources, Norman Chan Sui-tim, the HKBA’s chairman, stood by Wong throughout the hour-long session, leaving the players “no chance” to talk to the commissioner.
