David Muoka, the first Hongkonger to win an NBA contract, cannot currently represent the city after he was told to give up his British passport to acquire one in his hometown.

It means that the Hong Kong team will have to contest this month’s Fiba Asia Cup qualifying matches without their long-anticipated addition.

Sources with information on the development confirmed to the Post that Muoka, who plays for the Windy City Bulls, an affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, would not be eligible for this month’s matches against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei. They said he would continue playing in the NBA’s development competition, the G League.

“He needs to renounce his British passport first, but with the G League season going on, he won’t be able to do that,” a source said, before explaining that changing passport would invalidate his US visa.

“Muoka first entered the United States on a British passport. If he renounced it and re-entered the US with a Hong Kong passport, he might not be able to continue playing straight away.