KUI Tan's hopes of avoiding relegation took a knock last night when they slipped to an unexpected 3-0 defeat at the hands of depleted Sing Tao in a Hongkong First Division match at the Shamshuipo Sports Ground.
Sing Tao, missing three of their five overseas players because of injuries and suspension, turned in a commanding display in the second half to run out easy winners.
Sing Tao's victory moved them into fourth place in the table on 23 points.
The defeat keeps Kui Tan firmly in the relegation battle with Happy Valley.
With the bottom two to be relegated, British Forces are doomed with only one point from 13 games.
Happy Valley are ninth with nine points from 13 and now have two games in hand on Kui Tan, who occupy the safe eighth spot with 14 points from 15 matches.
Valley meet Kui Tan in a crucial fixture on Thursday at Shamshuipo.