IT was nearly two hours past midnight. Most of the press had gone. The gallery was eerily empty.
From somewhere in the afterlife, Sir Hercules Robinson, the Legislative Council ghost, summoned the spirits of 24 other former governors, dressed them in their finest ostrich plumage and led them in grand procession across the ceiling.
Far below, Legco President Andrew Wong spoke his ritual benediction over the last bill. 'The ayes have it.' It was time for the Valedictory Motion. Legislators twittered. A frisson of excitement rippled the gubernatorial ectoplasm.
Nearly 50 hands went up as legislators indicated they wanted to speak. At seven minutes each, it was going to be a long night.
Leong Che-hung proposed that members say goodbye to Britain and hello to the Special Administrative Region.
It was a moment for jubilation, said Dr Leong . . . and a moment of sadness. Joy at the end of the colonial era. (Pshaw, spat Herc). Sadness that 27 out of 60 legislators had missed the through-train.