Hong Kong Football Association to lobby Fifa over player passport issue
Chief executive Mark Sutcliffe says he will first approach governing body before discussing sporting exemptions with the government in a bid to maximise the talent available for HK

Hong Kong will ask Fifa for dispensation so non-Chinese permanent residents can use their permanent ID card as proof of nationality rather than an SAR passport, says leading official Mark Sutcliffe.
I will speak to the AFC legal adviser about the best way to lobby Fifa
The HKFA, which is trying to raise the game’s standards, is stymied on the national front as many foreign-born players cannot represent Hong Kong as they don’t have a local passport, despite living in the city for more than seven years and holding a valid permanent identity card. Hong Kong are ranked 167th in the world, almost touching the lowest 170th placing in 2011.

“We want the ID card as proof of nationality rather than a SAR passport. If this fails, I will lobby our Immigration Department about special ‘sporting passports’,” Sutcliffe said.
The HKFA is also keeping a close watch on developments on the mainland regarding dual nationality vis-à-vis the national soccer team.
We want the ID card as proof of nationality rather than a SAR passport