Hong Kong's 32-year-old former Olympic windsurfing champion Lee Lai-shan arrived back in Hong Kong Wednesday and is being treated in hospital for an abdominal ailment, said local media Thursday.

Lee secured a gold medal in the sailing event in the 14th PusanAsian Games Tuesday, but missed the presentation of her golden medal Wednesday when she underwent the tests for the pains that almost forced her to withdraw from the competition.

A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government release said Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa sent a congratulatory letter Wednesday to Lee Lai-shan.

Tung said, "Ms Lee brings not only a gold medal, but also prideto Hong Kong. Her persistence in the sailing races shows admirablesportsmanship and she is definitely a role model from whom our young people should learn."

He wished Lee, who is now in hospital in Hong Kong, to get wellsoon.

Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho also wished Lee an early recovery and believed that she would lead Hong Kong's young athletes to reach new heights in the future.

So far, the HKSAR team has won a total of 16 medals in the Pusan Asian Games, comprising 4 gold, 3 silver and 9 bronze.

Ho said, "The outstanding performance and the unfailing effortsof the HKSAR team are much appreciated. We are proud of their success."

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2002)