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BSP-15
GOLF-EPGA-ASIA-HKG
Hong Kong Open golf postponed as protests grip city
HONG KONG, Nov 20, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Next week’s Hong Kong Open, one of the
biggest golf tournaments in Asia, was postponed on Wednesday following months
of anti-government protests in the city.
“Regretfully the European Tour, in conjunction with our tournament co-
sanctioning partner at the Asian Tour, has taken the decision to postpone
next week’s Hong Kong Open,” a European Tour statement said.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said he hoped the event, whose
winners include Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie and Peter Thomson, could be
rescheduled for early next year.
“The decision has been taken due to the ongoing level of social unrest in
Hong Kong,” Pelley said.
“As the safety of our players, staff, stakeholders and everyone involved
in each and every one of our tournaments around the world is our top
priority, we feel this is the correct, but unfortunate, course of action.”
Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said: “It is regrettable
that the Hong Kong Open has to be postponed due to the ongoing unrest in the
city.
“The unpredictability of the current situation in Hong Kong makes it very
challenging to sanction the tournament especially with the safety of everyone
of utmost importance.
“However, we are optimistic that once the situation in Hong Kong
stabilises, we will be in a better position to sanction the 61st edition of
the Hong Kong Open in the very near future.”
BSS/AFP/ARS/1552 hrs