Born in the days when cricket was still a gentleman's game and 'It's just not cricket' served as a stern rebuke which had some meaning, the Karp Group & PC Jeweller Hong Kong Sixes has gone through a stormy childhood and now, in its teen years, is wondering what the future holds.
John Hung and Terry Smith, who were both around at the birth, are convinced the only way forward is if the boundaries are extended. They are talking in the literal sense - a new venue which can cater to around 15,000 fans.
'Until the Sixes can become self-sustaining, where it doesn't have to depend on sponsorship or the government as the main source of funding, we will always struggle. And to be self-sufficient we need a bigger venue,' says Smith, vice-president of the Hong Kong Cricket Association.
Former president Hung agrees. 'We need to escalate the importance of the Sixes to the level of the Hong Kong Sevens. But we are at a disadvantage because while the rugby sevens has a ground which can hold 40,000 fans, we have one which caters to 4,000,' he said.
The Kowloon Cricket Club has provided yeoman service to the tournament which started in 1992 - created by private entrepreneurs Ken Catton and Papu Butani with financial help from Rod Eddington (Cathay Pacific) and Hung (Wharf Group) - but the limited size of the picturesque ground leaves little room for growth.
This is a huge stumbling block for prospective sponsors who want to see increasing returns on their investment. And with revenue from tickets limited, organizers have had to scramble around for financial backers, a tough ask in economically harsh times.