Recently I read 呂大樂's 足球政治與冷戰的微妙關係 from his 那似曾相識的七十年代. A great paper. Not only did he cite heavily from the two key archival materials in the Shanghai Municipal Archives about two HK football team's visits to China in 1965 and 1972, but also 華僑日報's reports on the controversy of the secret and known visits esclating to the politics of football amid the Cold War.
Without a few HK football history books in hand, I am not sure whether scholars have dug the South China Morning Post. The following are some interesting reports from it.
South China Morning Post, 22 July 1965, p. 2.
Hongkong palyers on tour in China
H.K.F.A. uncertain how to handle delicate situation
By a staff correspondent
A group of Hongkong soccer players - the majority of them members of last season's champion club, Happy Valley - are in China, presumably to play football.
The entire, however, is completely shroude in mystery so much so that even the left-wing press, normally quite voluble on a subject such as this, are pleading ignorance of the details of the visit.
...
It is equally apparent that someone had already thought about his problem, hence the fact that Chinese soccer circles are claiming this is not a Happy Valley team, but simply an assortment of players on a vacation in China.
Mr Lai Chung-yin, the Happy Valley team manager, for instance claims he knows nothing about the tour at all. The team, he says, is definitely not Happy Valley.
...
It is equally apparent that the Hongkong Football Association are in a quandary over the entire situation. Mr Norman Fraser said last night: "I don't know any details about this trip. We'll have to examine the situation at a later date. I have no comment to make at this time."
...
Complicating the situation even further is the fact that four key players of the Taiwan National team are understood to be on tour. They include Lau Tim, Wong Man-wai, Kwok Moon-wah and Lo Kwok-tai. From the Hongkong team are Ma Fook-pui, Liu Kam-ming, and Lee Kwok-keungg. Guest players include Lo Tak-kuen and Lok Tak-hing.
The group is understood to be managed by Mr Ngan Tung-chung. Their coach is Chu Wing-keung, one of Hongkong's most respected soccer officials.
Chinese press reports indicate the team - and it is still not known under what name they will be playing - have matches schedule in Canton, Shanghai and Peking. they return to Hongkong on August 5.
Three players currently training with Hongkong's Merdeka Tournament team, are understood to have declined the invitation to make the tour. They include Chan Hung-ping, Mok Siu-lam and Chan Ping-kong.
The Hongkong Football Association, as usual, find themselves in an embarrassing position. Obviously They cannot ignore the matter completely. They must however answer two basic questions:
(a) Have these players ontravened the rules of the HKFA and that of FIFA?
(b) If so, what action should be taken?
We await developments of this intriguing situation, with keen interest.
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more news reports
South China Morning Post, 23 July 1965, p. 2. Sports View: Some Red Faces In High Places
South China Morning Post, 24 July 1965, p. 2. H.K.F.A. SEEKING F.I.F.A.'s ADVICE
South China Morning Post, 24 July 1965, p. 2. Deadlock In Relegation Dispute
South China Morning Post, 30 July 1965, p. 2. H.K.F.A. MUST ACT, WARNS F.I.F.A.
South China Morning Post, 30 July 1965, p. 2. Three Of H.K.'s Players 'Axed'
South China Morning Post, 10 Aug 1965, p. 3. H.K. PLAYERS ADMIT PLAYING IN CHINA: No Attempt Made To Avoid Identification
South China Morning Post, 26 Aug 1965, p. 2. Happy Valley Lodge Official Appeal: BOARD'S RIGHT TO HEAR CASE ALSO CHALLENGED
... to be continued
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