The ceremony, due to take place on March 24 at the the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, will no longer go ahead as planned, reports the South China Morning Post. 

"There is little we can do as the entire city is still battling the new coronavirus," Vivien Lau Chiang-chu, chairman of the awards' organising committee, is quoted as saying.

"The awards presentation involves more than 100 tables with the presence of all Hong Kong’s leading athletes and other prominent guests. 

"We can’t take the risk of anything happening that may affect our medal chance in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which is not far away."

Organisers are eyeing up May as a potential time to host a rescheduled ceremony.

"We will definitely have one this year, but when depends on the epidemic," Lau added.

Public voting for four award categories closed last week, with snooker player Ng On-yee leading the race to be handed the Cathay Pacific Best of the Best Hong Kong Sports Stars Award.

Several sporting events in the territory have already fallen afoul of the coronavirus outbreak, including the Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Marathon and the Longines Masters of Hong Kong showjumping leg.

Hong Kong were also unable to compete in the Badminton Asia Team Championships due to quarantine rules put in place by the Philippines, the host nation.

There have been at least 65 confirmed cases of coronavirus - now given the name COVID-19 by the World Health Organization - in Hong Kong and two deaths.

Globally, the total number of cases has cleared 75,000 and there have been in excess of 2,000 deaths.