No revenge for Rowse
Up at the crack of dawn yesterday morning - well 8.30am - to listen to Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah 'live' on RTHK and the prospect of a grilling from former civil servant Mike Rowse. He, it will be recalled, had to take the government to court to clear his name after it unsuccessfully tried to make him responsible for spending irregularities over the Harbour Fest some years ago. We were anticipating fireworks, particularly as there appeared to be considerable ammunition to have a go at Tsang.
But this was not to be and the programme was rather dull, assisted by Rowse's gentle questioning. 'Well, he seemed very tired and rather down,' Rowse said. 'He's a decent man under a lot of pressure. Our job was to look at the issues - which I think we did in a civilised way.'
But wasn't this an opportunity for Rowse's revenge? we asked. 'Well John wasn't part of that unpleasantness. Some things can be forgiven without being forgotten,' Rowse chortled.
What price Med cruise?
There was good news for the organisers of the Fund Managers and Asian Brokers and Bankers Awards dinner this week when a local tycoon donated a week's holiday on his yacht (pictured). The holiday is one of a number prizes that will be auctioned for charity at next Thursday's dinner. The dinner is one of Hong Kong's biggest single fund raising events for charity of the year having raised just over US$1 million at each of the past two events.