Racing NSW has issued a statement clarifying its position on the decision to license jockey Chris Munce despite opposition from Hong Kong racing authorities.Peter V'Landys, chief executive of Racing NSW, said the administrative body believed it was imperative the facts of the matter were made clear and transparent so as to clarify the matter and to dispel some of the misinformation in the wider community.His counterpart in Hong Kong, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said on Friday his club would be

Racing NSW has issued a statement clarifying its position on the decision to license jockey Chris Munce despite opposition from Hong Kong racing authorities.

Peter V'Landys, chief executive of Racing NSW, said the administrative body believed it was imperative the facts of the matter were made clear and transparent so as to clarify the matter and to dispel some of the misinformation in the wider community.

His counterpart in Hong Kong, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said on Friday his club would be compelled to review its participation in both the Global Sprint Series and the Asian Mile Challenge as a result of the decision made last week by Racing NSW.

V'Landys cited the following points:

1: Mr Munce had 24 hours in which to appeal the decision of the Racing Stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club made on 1 December 2008.

2: Mr Munce elected not to appeal that decision.

3: Accordingly, Racing NSW conducted a show cause hearing on 3 December 2008 as to why the conditional licence granted to Mr Munce on 10 November 2008 should not be withdrawn.

4: In accordance with legal advice and the Rules of Racing by which Racing NSW is bound (in particular AR 7(f)), Racing NSW reciprocated the sanctions in respect of the punishment imposed by the Racing Stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for 35 of the 36 charges. Racing NSW did not reciprocate in respect of the penalty of 30 months which was tied to a breach of a criminal offence under the criminal code of the Hong Kong SAR of which Mr Munce would not have been convicted had his conduct taken place in Australia.

V'Landys said it should be made clear any references by Racing NSW to the principles of natural justice were in the context of the principles of natural justice that apply to Racing NSW as a regulatory body.

Accordingly, Racing NSW was required to afford Mr Munce the opportunity to be heard and make submissions as to why the licence granted to him on 10 November 2008 should not be withdrawn.

At no time did Racing NSW state that Mr Munce was not afforded procedural fairness and natural justice by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Racing NSW rejects the assertion by the Hong Kong Jockey Club that it has been ostracised from the racing community as a result of the determination that it made on 3 December 2008.

In fact, both Racing Victoria and Racing Queensland have indicated that they will follow a similar process of procedural fairness and natural justice as followed by Racing NSW in the consideration of any application by Mr Munce for a licence.

Further, at the Australian Racing Board meeting conducted earlier Friday, it was confirmed that consideration of an application for a licence is a matter for the relevant state racing authority to which the application is made.