Link Reit appoints Lo Siu-lan as an independent non-executive director in return for suspending her lawsuit and allowing a quick listing. Albert Cheng King-hon or 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung join the Housing Authority board and plot strategy for the privatisation of public housing.

Sarah Liao Sau-tung and legislator Emily Lau Wai-hing queue up to secure a unit at the tarted up Hunghom Peninsula, which will be priced at $9,999 per square foot for penthouse units, a record for government subsidised housing.

Esprit makes a general offer to Giordano to boost its Asian presence; Macau concept play Melco buys out a long-established property family in preparation for becoming a blue chip next year.

PCCW is taken over by China Netcom but kicked out of the Hang Seng Index, being replaced by Hutchison Telecom. Techtronic Industries usurps Lenovo and Sino Land makes a comeback ousting boring old Wheelock Properties.

With 3G turning around, Hutchison Whampoa taipan Canning Fok Kin-ning launches a pay-TV blockbuster show You're Fired. Resembling reality shows by Donald Trump and Richard Branson the Fok hallmark is his big chuckle before banishing participants to the dole queue.

matchmaking can wait

'Oceans apart, day after day, and I slowly go insane'. This may not be the best characterisation of the typical journalist-fund manager relationship. But at Citigroup Asset Management's Valentine's Day lunch for journalists, this lyric from Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting anthem wafted romantically in the air.

Lai See and a colleague enjoyed heartfelt exchanges with Citigroup executives, which were consummated with a gift exchange that netted us a cute magnetic toy and chocolate. But there the blossoming romance ended, after a Citigroup public relations executive laid down the rules of engagement. 'Today is not for matchmaking,' she said.

fashionable affair minus the stars

The first IPO in the Year of the Rooster is going to be a fashionable affair. IT, a retail chain run by Shum Ka-wai, husband of former actress Chingmy Yau Suk-ching, has invited 300 fund managers to Lan Kwai Fong tomorrow for a cocktail and a fashion show as part of its effort to raise US$80 million next month.

However, those who think they may meet actress Maggie Cheung Man-yuk may be disappointed as Lai See hears no celebrities will show up for the presentation.

invest a little and get a little

Invest $500,000 in a Deutsche Bank guaranteed mutual fund and secure yourself a gold rooster. Buy a Sun Hung Kai flat at Noble Hill in Sheung Shui for $3 million, and Hong Kong Property Services promises you a packaged tour of Italy worth nearly $100,000. Always ask for discounts at Valentine's and New Year holidays.

ipo process just the ticket

Now Lai See is nothing if not an admirer of David Webb's crusading energy. But when the indefatigable corporate governance activist turns his Mensa quality mind to football ticket pricing ... well, we wonder whether he's at a loss for more interesting work.

Mr Webb yesterday published a lengthy missive on the whys and wherefores of pricing sporting events. This came after Brazil's 7-1 drubbing of Hong Kong's finest, where an embarrassing abundance of empty seats was blamed on inflated prices. And last year, the Hong Kong Football Association is believed to have lost close to $1 million when it brought Real Madrid to town.

Mr Webb's solution: a book-building mechanism similar to that used for IPOs, where bidders set their own prices through a transparent auction process.

On a less exasperating note, Lai See was happy to note the brief return of recently retired TVB sports anchor Ng Fong-wing, who put in a 10-minute guest stint during the Brazil broadcast.