Hong Kong Football Association board urged to stop interfering and let staff do its job
Vice-chairman Pui Kwan-kay says a hands-on approach from directors, many of whom are involved with clubs, leads to perceptions of conflict of interest
A key Hong Kong Football Association official has called for directors to take a hands-off approach to the running of the game on the eve of elections to the board that will direct the future of local soccer for the next four to six years.
Vice-chairman Pui Kwan-kay, who is up for re-election himself, urged the new board to give more leeway to the governing body's secretariat, headed by the chief executive and a 70-plus-strong staff, to make the decisions.
We [directors] are all volunteers and many of us have club interests. Our decisions can easily affect other clubs who do not have representation on the board, leading to accusations of making our own agenda
"I have found the directors too hands-on in their job over the past four years to the extent that some of them work like paid staff in the association," said Pui, the chairman of Citizen.
"I don't think this should be the way forward as the directors should only give out clear directions and only get involved in key decisions that will affect the future of Hong Kong soccer."
The new board will have 11 members: president, chairman, four club-linked directors and five with no club links.
The secretariat is headed by chief executive Mark Sutcliffe with key positions underneath him being referees manager, technical director and head coach, head of football development, general secretary, head of competitions and head of corporate governance.
Pui says the board must let these key figures and their staff - paid considerable sums of money with government support under the Project Phoenix plan to revitalise local football - get on with their work.
He said continual interference from directors, many of whom are directly involved with league clubs, leads to perceptions of conflicts of interest.
"We should leave the decision-making job to the paid staff who have to make professional judgments in developing Hong Kong soccer as the government spends most of its annual HK$25 million subsidy on salaries.
"If the secretariat can't perform their role, they should take the responsibility."
"No one would argue the Jockey Club is not doing a good job in promoting their business and if I am re-elected, I will persuade my fellow directors to follow [their example]," he said.
Fifty-one member clubs will vote at a hotel in Sha Tin on Friday. President Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak, the two four-year club-linked directors (Martin Hong Po-kui and Canny Leung Chi-shan) and three six-year non-club-linked directors (Samuel Hui Kwok-ting, Yau How-boa and Sin Yat-kin) will be re-elected unopposed.
Pui faces a challenge from Wilson Wong Wai-shun (Yuen Long) and Wallace Cheung Kwong-yung (South China) for the two six-year-term club-linked posts. Three candidates are vying for two four-year-term non-club-linked posts: Eric Fok Kai-shan, Ho Kwan-yiu and Lee Kit-wah.
"I have a long tradition in serving the sport without any personal agenda. Many people know this well," Pui said.
South China's Cheung is considered the underdog as Wong and Pui have strong support from fellow clubs. Eric Fok, the president's son, is the favourite in the other category with incumbent Ho against the little-known Lee.
