Speculation has been growing in recent months that China are prepared to launch an attempt to secure the hosting rights for either the 2030 or 2034 tournament.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino today, which has exacerbated reports they will bid for the event.

Fok, an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and a vice-president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), has told Chinese officials not to forget Hong Kong if they do enter the running.

The Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong President believes they have the capability to play a role having staged equestrian events when Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Hong Kong has the power to determine its own sporting policy separately from China.

The territory was under British control until 1997.

"There is a trend now to combine hosting for major football events, like the United States bidding for the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico," he told the South China Morning Post.

"Beijing was very generous when they allowed Hong Kong to host the equestrian events and I remember my IOC colleagues were very impressed by Hong Kong, not only with its facilities but its administration and how it organised the event.

"I was at the FIFA Congress in Bahrain and I was always hint, hint to the Chinese officials - if China got anything, don't forget Hong Kong."

China is not officially allowed to enter the race for the 2030 tournament at this stage as FIFA's current rules prevent another Asian country from bidding until 2034 at the earliest as Qatar is staging the competition in 2022.

FIFA's ruling Council discussed the idea of altering their statutes regarding its World Cup rotation policy to go against the ruling "if circumstances so require" during its meeting prior to the Congress in Bahrain last month.

It was not put forward to the full Congress as FIFA instead decided to install a working group to look into any possible statute changes.

Various officials in China have claimed it would be the nation's dream to host the World Cup, FIFA's flagship event and principle money-spinner.

Should China be eligible to bid for the 2030 World Cup, they are likely to face competition from a joint Argentina-Uruguay effort.

The two South American nations are keen on staging the tournament to mark the 100-year anniversary of the first World Cup in 1930.

UEFA could also pursue a bid as President Aleksander Čeferin said earlier this month that they would "fight" for a European host in 2030.