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SCMP Reporter

Four and a half hours of soccer for just HK$60 - and only HK$20 for senior citizens - yesterday proved a big draw for fans, bargain hunters and those out to make a quick profit.

It took just six hours to sell out 15,000 tickets for the Reunification Cup  on the handover anniversary,  and some were soon being offered online for HK$400 to HK$500, prompting the government to alert police.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department  said  the tickets stated that they were not for resale.

A police spokesman said the commercial crime bureau was contacting the event's organiser, the  Football Association, for more information. Police had not received any complaints.

One teenager, who arrived 90 minutes before tickets went on sale at Hong Kong Stadium at 9am, was open about his intentions. The student, surnamed Wan, bought a ticket for himself and two adult tickets.

'I'll probably put the adult tickets on eBay, or sell them to someone,' he said.

More than 1,000 fans were queueing when the ticket office opened, about  100 of them  from 8pm. They braved heavy early-morning rain to snap up tickets for the tournament - part of celebrations for the 10th anniversary of the handover. Each buyer was restricted to four tickets.

The matches will feature German side Bayern Munich,  Brazilian team Sao Paulo,  a FIFA World Stars team, a China-Hong Kong all-star team, and teams of  mainland and Hong Kong celebrities. Buyers said they were attracted by the low ticket prices rather than the visiting teams and players, and said they would not be  attending if the prices were higher.

'I love watching the games, and it's so cheap,' said one man using the express lane for senior citizens.

Ms Fung and her twin sister said they had taken  the day off work to be sure of getting tickets to see  Bayern's former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn,  and his teammates take on Sao Paulo.

Government officials said another 16,000 tickets would be given away as lucky draw prizes and 4,500 had been given to underprivileged groups.  Remaining  tickets are reserved for bodies, including the  Football Association.



HK$60 soccer tickets costing HK$500 online