The South China Morning Post newspaper quoted an unnamed sports official as saying the Hong Kong Olympic Committee had pressured the HKJC and HKEF "to guarantee ... that the riders who would get the money would be eligible to represent Hong Kong at the Olympics, otherwise it was going to be a major problem."
Jockey Club sources said that exemptions must be recommended by national Olympic committees.
In Lee's case, that recommendation must come from the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee (SF&OC) of Hong Kong.
The honorary secretary of the SF&OC, Pang Chung said in an e-mail: "We are not in a position to give concrete response in the matter at present as we are now in discussion with the Hong Kong Equestrian Federation for the way forward."
In the meantime, Lee remains on tenterhooks as she mulls the implications of changing her nationality from American to Chinese.
"Every athlete dreams of going to the Olympics," she said. "It's just that this is such a big ask."
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