Much ink has been spilled of late analysing and obsessing over the chief executive's and his administration's descent into the approval-rating abyss. It's no wonder, then, that - according to rumours - Norman Chan Tak-lam, director of the Chief Executive's Office, has been busy wining and dining Suki Yau Suk-yee, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's press adviser for his 2007 chief executive campaign. There is speculation that Ms Yau will replace Mr Tsang's current spin doctor Andy Ho On-tat.
Getting a new PR adviser may help, but there are some things that no amount of spin can help. Take, for instance, the defining show-stopping moment in 2008: the policy address banana-throwing debacle.
It stole the chief executive's show; it made him blink; it obviously made him angry. And it was 'mission accomplished' for the banana-throwers. But, by being so angry, Mr Tsang handed himself to the League of Social Democrats on a silver platter.
Really, we get it. It was obnoxious and it was rude. The majority of us would prefer it if Taiwan's culture of 'legislative brawling' theatrics stayed well away from Statue Square.
Here's a bit of advice for Mr Tsang: don't be a victim of political histrionics - get a sense of humour. Understand that ridicule is the simplest form of playground politics, that being angry only makes it more fun and, as the experts say, they'll just come back for more. Instead of playing right into their hands, try throwing back some humour to counter the crudeness. It shouldn't be that difficult: if US President George W. Bush can do it, after ducking a size 10 shoe, so can you. And perhaps, for once, Beijing would agree with Chris Patten, the public relations genius: thanking Wong Yuk-man for the bananas and saving them to eat later would have reclaimed the spotlight.
Speaking of political histrionics and throwing things, Mr Tsang's decision to show up at the acid-throwing crime scene in Mong Kok was a bad idea. Playing the chief crime-scene detective from CSI:NY served absolutely no purpose.