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
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.”
