HONG Kong's armchair soccer fans were hardly whooping with delight with the news that Wharf CABLE TV had secured the rights for the next World Cup in Japan and South Korea in 2002. CABLE is very much the football channel here and, coming on top of their successful bid for next summer's Euro 2000 finals, sports bosses at TVB and ATV might as well think of a change of job. This was the first time CABLE were able to bid as the Hong Kong rights were not sub-divided into public television and the satellite or cable variety for the World Cup in France last year. Credit to CABLE for knowing exactly what they want and going for it. The general word is that if they did not have football, they would have very little in the way of subscribers, so they may well have been in a Catch 22 situation. But it is not a good result for Hong Kong football fans. It is not so much the expense of paying monthly bills for CABLE TV but, at this time, there are still sizeable areas of the community which cannot receive the signal anyway. That may well have eased considerably by the time the tournament comes around and it will be an interesting test of CABLE's attractions as to how many install the service but then discontinue it when the World Cup ends. It says nothing for TVB and, to a much lesser extent, ATV, that they failed to secure the rights. It all comes down to money - nothing else. TVB can easily take the gamble that when the World Cup has come and gone, their overall figures and standing will not be affected. It will have cost them nothing at all financially. And that truly is the bottom line. Public-spirited television stations elsewhere recognise that certain events such as the World Cup represent huge status. There is a massive amount of work involved, tremendous sums of money and a battle to get it back. But built into that is a commitment to the community they serve. There is a TVB slogan plastered across their vehicular fleet: TVB cares. They do - about money. So, too, does the Hong Kong Football Association and they are a bit concerned that there is not enough of it around for some far-reaching plans. The HKFA is casting envious, or at least very interested, eyes at Singapore where local football in the island republic has absolutely boomed in the past two years. The Singapore FA's one aim is to qualify for the World Cup in 2010. They have never got beyond the first Asian qualifying round in the past. Engaging coaches, boosting the strength of talent available to local First Division teams, developing a quality youth scheme and many other first-class ideas all cost a bundle of money. And the SFA have it now - thanks to legalised football betting. The much more forward-thinking HKFA are now sending vice-chairman Ken Ng to Singapore to find out exactly how it operates. It is expected that a full report will then be made to the HKFA council and, in all probability, an approach made to the Hong Kong Government to consider the legalisation of football betting in the SAR. What remains unclear at the moment is whether, or how, local football might come into the equation. There is no doubting the enormous appeal of the Premier League and the Serie A games which are shown live on Wharf CABLE TV and attract enormous sums of money. But the HKFA see it clearly as the way forward for football and will cite Singapore as a prime example in Asia that has worked well. Recently, the HKFA was given a sizeable piece of land to develop a School of Football Excellence. It will be developed, coaches employed and, hopefully, a string of future local stars emerge. The Government has been willing to lend an ear to the HKFA and appears to have a favourable view of football development. Hopefully, it will extend to a form of football betting which will ensure that money from Hong Kong people remains to benefit this community rather than winging its way overseas to line the pockets of operators in Gibraltar - or a horde of illegal bookmakers here. parkbyglo Robin Parke Parke View