The new Siu Sai Wan Stadium, built mainly for soccer and athletics, has been snubbed by a major soccer sponsor.
British American Tobacco (BAT), sponsor of the prestigious Viceroy Cup, has demanded that the opening match of the competition on March 16 and the semi-final on March 23 be moved from the 12,000-seat Siu Sai Wan ground to the 8,500-seat Mongkok Stadium.
And an official for the Hong Kong Amateur Athletics Association (HKAAA) said the $230 million complex was unlikely to play a major role in the association's competition schedule.
But the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) won't allow the stadium in eastern Hong Kong to become a white elephant and intends to make proper use of the facility.
Senior HKAAA official Tsin Yan-pui said the Wan Chai Sports Ground, which seats around 1,500 spectators, was adequate for the association's athletic purposes.
'The only reason we would have a meet at Siu Sai Wan is if it was a major international competition with big names, otherwise we would never fill the stadium,' said Tsin.
'And there's little chance of that happening because we just can't afford to bring down these star athletes.
