A PASS-the-buck mentality has scuppered plans by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) to host the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) next week, writes Alvin Sallay.
A PLA rugby team were due to arrive on Tuesday, to play two games against the Hong Kong Dragons and the British Army.
But disappointed local rugby officials yesterday said the games would be cancelled after the PLA were unable to get permission from the Chinese Foreign Affairs Department.
'No one wants to give permission as there is no previous history of a a game of this nature,' said HKRFU senior development officer K. K. Chiu, who went to Guangzhou earlier this week in a bid to iron out the problems.
'I will make a final bid with the local Chinese authorities here to get permission granted.
'But I think it is very doubtful that we can see the PLA in action next week.' The HKRFU had hoped to pit the PLA against the British Army at King's Park, on the eve of the Hong Kong Sevens - capitalising on the media exposure, both local and international.
