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FIRST Division minnows Kitchee have thrown striker Dale Tempest a Hong Kong lifeline by offering him a one-month deal in October - and the possibility of a two-season contract.

 Tempest, 29, scored 23 goals last season as Eastern won the league championship, the Camelpaint Challenge Shield and the Hong Kong FA Cup.

 But he was released on the day of Eastern's final league game after failing to agree terms for next season and was replaced in the champions' line-up by Tony Sealy.

 Kitchee were quick to express an interest in Tempest - after revealing they had tried to sign him the previous summer to lead their attack on their return to the First Division.

 And yesterday Tempest met Kitchee officials to discuss terms for a one-month contract.

 Although no deal was signed, Tempest said they had reached agreement and would have further talks next month.

 ''The talks went very well and they understand my position and I understand theirs,'' said Tempest.

 ''It is nice to know there is something there if I want it but the deal is still up in the air.

 ''I will be going back to England early next week for around six weeks and, as things stand, could be back to play for Kitchee in the Shield during October.

 ''I would be coming back on my own to see how things went and we have agreed terms for that month.

 ''The best thing is that Kitchee would not stand in the way of my work with ATV and STAR, which is very important now I am looking to my long-term future.''  If the one-month deal was a success, Tempest said he would sit down with club officials and discuss a new contract up until the end of the 1994-95 season.

 ''If I came back long-term it would be with my wife and three children, probably after Christmas, and Kitchee have agreed to pay me what I was earning at Eastern last season.

 ''It all sounds very promising but there are one or two other irons in the fire at the moment and I still have people to talk to in Hong Kong and elsewhere.''  Kitchee have increased their budget from $4.5 million to $7 million next season and chairman Fred Ng Chi-keung said he would put aside $1.5 million in the hope of signing Tempest and a midfielder from an English Premier League club.

 Tempest scored 98 goals in club and representative matches during his four seasons in Hong Kong - two with South China and two with Eastern.

 He was the highest-paid player in the territory with a package worth around $850,000 last season but his demands for a 10 per cent rise next season and a further 10 per cent the following season were turned down by Eastern, who offered him only a three per cent increase.

 After being replaced by the champions, Tempest cut short a holiday in England to return to Hong Kong and try and sort out his future, inside or outside the professional game.

 He attracted interest from clubs in Norway and Sweden but is keen to pursue a career in sports promotion, public relations or as a television presenter.

 Kitchee have even offered to fly him back for an important league game on September 30 - against Eastern.



Foothold with ambitious Kitchee tempts Tempest