Latest news with #QualityMigrantAdmissionScheme
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmaker defends ex-athlete Wang Junxia gaining residency via migrant scheme
A Hong Kong lawmaker has said he has no concerns about former athlete Wang Junxia being granted residency in the city, after some Hongkongers queried the move Former distance runner Wang, 52, had her residency confirmed on Wednesday under the city's Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, along with her 15-year-old daughter Huang Danting. It came 29 years after the end of Wang's controversial athletics career, in which she won 5,000 metres gold at the 1996 Olympics and set several world records – largely under Ma Junren, whom China later dropped as a coach when six other athletes failed blood tests. Wang on Friday insisted her 3,000m world record, which has stood for 32 years, would be broken eventually. Legislative Council member Jesse Shang Hailong, who was involved in efforts to grant residency to Wang, said on Friday: 'I am not an expert in sports, but if Wang can be an Olympic champion, she must have passed all criteria by the International Olympic Committee. It meant her results were tested, and she's still a world record-holder.' Wang Junxia (right) presents a self-painted picture of her Olympic triumph to Jesse Shang. Photo: Mike Chan He added: 'To me, she's trustworthy, and I believe in her.'
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hongkongers wonder what Wang Junxia can bring to city, 29 years after Olympic gold
Hongkongers are questioning how former Olympic gold medallist Wang Junxia qualified for residency under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, 29 years after the end of her controversial athletics career. Advertisement Wang and her 15-year-old daughter, Wang Danting, had their residency confirmed on Wednesday, sparking debate online as to how the former Chinese athlete, who still holds the 3,000 metre world record, could contribute to her new home. A large number of comments focused on the 52-year-old's history as part of a group of athletes known as the 'Ma Family Army'. Coached by the notorious Ma Junren, they dominated athletics in the early 1990s, only to later admit they had been forced to take 'large doses of illegal drugs over the years'. 'She was part of the Ma Family Army, is she coming to Hong Kong to teach doping?' one commentator said. Another comment questioned 'how much investment is she bringing to the city', before adding, 'don't tell me, she got nothing but was still approved'. Wang Junxia at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon Expo at Victoria Park in February, 2007. Photo: David Wong 'She's way beyond her prime now … any interschool runner could beat her now. How is she still? I suggested the Audit Commission or the ICAC and other departments investigate to check for any illegal behaviour,' another commentator said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Olympic champion Wang Junxia joins Hong Kong via talent scheme, runs with Lee Lai-shan at Tamar Park
Olympic gold medalists highlight jogging event in Hong Kong Wang Junxia , the former Chinese long-distance running champion known as the "Oriental Deer," has moved to Hong Kong through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme . On Tuesday, June 17, she joined a morning jogging event at Tamar Park with her daughter Huang Danting , the national youth long-distance running champion, and Hong Kong's first Olympic gold medalist, Lee Lai-shan. The event, organized by Legislative Council member Sheung Hoi-lung's office, began at Tamar Park and ended at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai. Both Wang and Lee brought their Olympic gold medals, which they won at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and posed for photographs with attendees. Also read: Is Victor Wembanyama in search of inner peace? 7'3' NBA star spotted at China's Shaolin Temple with shaved Wang expressed gratitude for being welcomed into the Hong Kong community. 'I am very honored to be a member of Hong Kong,' she said. Recalling her previous visit in 1996 as part of the Chinese athlete delegation, Wang said she was impressed by the city's enthusiasm. 'The late businessman Henry Fok gave each Chinese athlete a one-kilogram gold medal at that time,' she noted. Live Events She added, 'I was called the 'Oriental Deer,' and I feel I have a special connection with Hong Kong, the Pearl of the Orient.' Wang also said she would 'work hard to learn Cantonese.' Wang Junxia plans to contribute to sports in Hong Kong Wang Junxia has remained active in sports promotion since retiring from competitive athletics. During the event, she emphasized her intention to contribute to Hong Kong's sports development. 'I hope to do my best for Hong Kong, especially in sports,' she said. She also expressed optimism about the future of the city's talent programs. 'I look forward to more talents from all walks of life coming to Hong Kong to contribute to its development,' she said. Deputy Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Wu Jianmin also attended the event. Wu stated that since the launch of the government's talent-attraction policies in late 2022, a total of 470,000 applications have been received. Of those, 310,000 were approved and 210,000 individuals have already arrived in Hong Kong. Wu said the figures reflect Hong Kong's continued appeal to global talent. Also read: IOC finds Olympic sponsor in China through 2032 to replace Panasonic of Japan Youth champion Huang Danting aspires to represent Hong Kong Wang's daughter, Huang Danting, also addressed the crowd. She noted that the day was personally significant as it marked both her birthday and her formal recognition as a Hong Kong resident. Huang credited her mother for introducing her to long-distance running and said she discovered a natural aptitude for the sport. 'I hope to represent Hong Kong in the future,' Huang said. Lee Lai-shan, who joined the run as a guest of honor, welcomed Wang's arrival. 'As a Hong Kong citizen and athlete, I very much welcome Wang Junxia to Hong Kong,' Lee said. She expressed confidence that Wang's experience would benefit local athletes and contribute to the city's athletic growth.
RTHK
4 days ago
- Sport
- RTHK
Long run for Olympic winner ends in HK
Long run for Olympic winner ends in HK Wang Junxia holds up the gold medal that she won in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Photo: RTHK Retired Chinese long-distance runner and Olympic gold medallist Wang Junxia has become a Hongkonger through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Wang said she decided to move to Hong Kong as it is an international city that gathers talent from all over the world. She wishes to contribute to the sports development in Hong Kong. 'Hong Kong is doing well in sports and cultural education," Wang said. "Although I said I want to promote sports in the city, I also want to learn from Hong Kong through exchanges. "I hope we can learn from each other, and I will do my best to contribute." Wang snatched gold in the women's 5,000 metres at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Georgia, becoming the first Chinese athlete to win a Games gold medal in a long-distance race. Wang's 15-year-old daughter, Huang Danting, who was born and raised in the United States, also said she is excited to become a Hong Kong resident and wants to represent the SAR in competitions in the future. 'I did compete in some races and I got first place in a lot of them," Huang said. "Because I'm pretty good, so probably someday I can compete for Hong Kong.' Lawmaker Shang Hailong, the founding president of the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association, said Wang can help local athletes in training. He added that his association has been offering support to newly arrived talent through job fairs and Cantonese lessons. 'We organised six job fairs in the past two years and helped more than 2,000 families in finding jobs in Hong Kong,' he said. Shang said the association is confident of attracting more talent to the city.
South China Morning Post
06-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Former world champion Neil Robertson the third snooker star to become Hong Kong resident
Former world snooker champion Neil Robertson revealed on Friday that he and his family had acquired Hong Kong residency. The Australian, who made the announcement on his official Weibo account, becomes the third high-profile player to take advantage of the city's Quality Migrant Admission Scheme. England's seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and world No 1 Judd Trump have both previously become residents. In a post in simplified Chinese, Robertson wrote that he was 'very honoured that my whole family and I have obtained Hong Kong identity cards'. He added: 'This is not only a significant moment for me personally, but also an honour for our entire family. Hong Kong has always been my blessed land. I have achieved many great successes here and have forged a deep friendship with this city.' Neil Robertson called Hong Kong 'my blessed land' in a Weibo post. Photo: Dickson Lee In 2017, Robertson triumphed at the non-ranking Hong Kong Masters when he beat Mark Selby, Marco Fu Ka-chun and O'Sullivan at Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
