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HKCA changes spell end to vote buying

The practice of buying votes to manipulate the election of office-bearers will become a thing of the past when an extraordinary general meeting of the Hong Kong Cricket Association votes in a new constitution today.

Two key transformations will take place under the new constitution. The first will result in the pruning of a 600-member voting body to just 29 - the number of teams in the Saturday and Sunday Leagues - while the second will see Pakistan Association and Little Sai Wan gain full representation on the executive committee.

'We are not only streamlining the system, but we are also giving clubs who do a lot for the game a full measure of responsibility on the executive,' HKCA chairman Dinesh Tandon said.

There was huge controversy surrounding last year's election of the president and chairman when certain members were accused of vote buying and trying to rig the elections.

'We had the case where we suddenly saw 200 to 300 people sign on as members a few days before the annual general meeting,' Tandon said. 'It was a clear case of an attempt at vote buying and trying to manipulate the system.'

Those new members were refused permission to vote as their registrations came after notice of the AGM had been sent out. Tandon was voted as chairman, while Shahzada Saleem became president.

'Instead of individual members electing officials, it will now be teams. Each team in the Saturday and Sunday League will have one vote and it will be up to the team to decide who they vote for.

'This restriction will hopefully do away with the political proxy voting system of the past and we can become more efficient,' Tandon said.

Little Sai Wan and Pakistan Association's success in developing and promoting the game has also resulted in them gaining full voting rights on the executive committee.

In the past, both clubs have come under the umbrella of 'the Independent's clubs'. But now they will join the established clubs - Hong Kong Cricket Club and Kowloon Cricket Club - on the HKCA's decision-making body.

'Both Pakistan Association and Little Sai Wan have done so much for the game. They have junior development teams, teams in both the Saturday and Sunday Leagues as well as women's teams,' Tandon said.

'They are being rewarded for this and they will be an example for other clubs intending to get full voting rights.'

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