Hong Kong football saved as government continues funding, but lambasted FA will be closely watched
- New five-year plan finally gets green light, but eyebrows raised over goal of reaching the 2034 World Cup finals
- Football chiefs now required to submit progress reports on quarterly basis after being blasted for poor governance and administration malpractice
The Hong Kong Football Association breathed a sigh of relief after the government approved its new five-year plan, but the body will be closely scrutinised after an Audit Commission report blasted its poor governance and administration malpractice.
At a Sports Commission meeting on Thursday headed by the Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai, the plan received the green light after a delay of three months because of the coronavirus pandemic. The plan outlines the sport’s development, including reaching the 2034 World Cup finals as its ultimate target.
However, the amount of subvention will be divided into two parts. A HK$19 million allocation will be set aside for staff and related costs, while expenses for football programmes will be decided on a case basis. Under the previous plan for 2015 to 2020, the association received a maximum HK$25 million a year for staff costs and other expenses through the government’s Arts and Sport Development Fund.
“Some adjustments have been made on the plan following suggestions of the commission members which should help the association improve in certain areas,” said Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, vice-chairman of the commission who is also president of the Football Association.