The Hong Kong Tennis Association "is negotiating to bring a women's professional tournament to Victoria Park" in Sept '14 with financial backing from the government, according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. However, limited seating capacity "could prove to be a major stumbling block in attracting more than one player from the world's top 10." HKTA President Vincent Liang said that the association "was looking at buying a WTA Int'l Series tournament," offering total prize money of $220,000. The government agreed to pay for the license, "which could cost several million dollars." It is understood that "the owners of the tournament wishing to sell their licence are in Luxembourg," which hosts a $220,000 event with a 32-draw singles and a 16-draw doubles tournament. Liang said, "The event is currently held around the end of October, but we hope to apply to the WTA to move it to the second week of September, which is one week before the Guangzhou Open." Hong Kong Home Affairs Deputy Secretary Jonathan McKinley said, "We have assured the tennis association we will earmark resources to help them secure a recognised international tennis event for Hong Kong. The process of securing and organising an event is up to the association as the governing body for the game" (SCMP, 9/19).
