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Hong Kong Gay Games organisers refuse to cancel event in face of activists’ warning that anyone criticising Beijing or city could be arrested

  • Activists accuse organisers of ‘aligning with pro-authoritarian figures persecuting’ residents
  • ‘We are deeply saddened by unfounded slurs made about the integrity of the Gay Games Hong Kong Team,’ coordinators say

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Hong Kong won the bid to host the 2022 Gay Games after applying in 2017. The event was postponed until 2023 because of the Covid pandemic. Photo: Gay Games Hong Kong
The Hong Kong organisers of the Gay Games have rejected calls to cancel the nine-day event scheduled for the autumn after five human rights activists accused the team of “aligning with pro-authoritarian figures persecuting” residents.
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The games, to be held in Hong Kong from November 3 to 11, will be the first in Asia.

“We are deeply saddened by unfounded slurs made about the integrity of the Gay Games Hong Kong Team, and totally reject any calls to cancel the Games,” the organisers said on their website on Monday.

“We are dismayed and disappointed that certain people outside Hong Kong are actively working to undermine and sabotage the successful staging of the Games later this year.”

Ambassadors of Gay Games Hong Kong gather for a press conference. Photo: Handout
Ambassadors of Gay Games Hong Kong gather for a press conference. Photo: Handout

“I don’t really know why they’re making these allegations, the entire leadership team, as we have stated in our public statement, are all volunteers,” Lisa Lam Mun-wai, co-chair of the event, told the Post on Tuesday.

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