Even if the government of Hong Kong decides to decrease the budget of the ice hockey association as a punishment for a recent gaffe during the playing of the national anthem, the minister of sports has promised to continue financing for players to attend international events and practice.

On Saturday, in the wake of the controversy surrounding the incident in February, when a protest song was once again played in place of the Chinese national anthem, Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, the secretary for culture, sports, and tourism, gave his word that it would never happen again. Since then, tensions have escalated between the Hong Kong Sports Federation and the city's ice hockey organization.

Yeung said that in a month's time, the Hong Kong Ice Hockey Association will be expected to present a report outlining steps to reform the organization's governance or face a possible loss of government financing.