The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) has bowed to pressure from its member clubs and agreed to take another look at how to resolve the issue over who pays the umpires in the Sunday League this season. It was decided at last night's AGM that the HKCA will look at other ways to raise funds to pay the officials. Clubs had been asked earlier to dish out $600 per game; the fee was to have been split between the two umpires. 'The clubs have told us that it is quite expensive to play cricket and asked us to keep the cost down. We have decided to look at other areas to raise money,' said Peter Slack, HKCA chairman. In principle, clubs and the HKCA have agreed to increase umpires' fees from $50 to $300 each a game. Meanwhile, the executive committee was voted in for another term without opposition. The new faces on the executive are Tony Melloy, who represents the Hong Kong Cricket Club, and Bharat Gohel, representing the Kowloon Cricket Club.
