IMAGINE the scene: a trusty Justice of the Peace, requested to witness the Mark Six draw to see fair play on behalf of Hong Kong's three million hopeful punters, leaps up in front of the television cameras and suggests it may have been rigged.
Since that is supposed to be the JP's role, you might wonder what would happen next.
Yet the Jockey Club has neither imagined nor wondered: officials have no plan for such a situation. In fact, they are struck dumb when asked.
I did ask. After a profound silence, so long that I began to think I was either very stupid or mad, Lotteries Board secretary Philip Chan Kwok-choi said: 'I can't think of any reason why the JP would object and query the draw.' JP Gerry Forsgate, who has attended the draw several times in its 20-year history, might agree with him. 'It's no big deal,' he said.
'It's rather like watching grass grow. I think everyone's too keen to get out to object to anything.' But I persisted with the officials. Wasn't the JP there to object if it seemed necessary? Another silence. Then information secretary Wilson Cheng Kwok-ming said: 'We have every confidence in our operating procedures.' The JP, 'the public's representative', does sign a document after the draw agreeing that everything has been done above board. Rather one-way representation, perhaps.
In several ways, attending the Mark Six draw seems like visiting a hall of mirrors. One golden rule you must not forget: the draw is not intended to be fun.
This Thursday there is an extra $10 million on the line, for the big Easter snowball draw, but even that seems to be little to smile about.