A chance to smell the roses and listen to the birds

No more Sars, no more bird flu, and don't even mention CSSA. Yeoh Eng-kiong says he just wants to be an ordinary citizen after his 33 years of public service end next week.

'I have not thought about any plans. I just want to give myself some time. My work has affected too much of my private life - now I want to rediscover myself, my interests, without any pressure to work,' Dr Yeoh said. The first thing he wanted to do after leaving the office he has held for five years is to 'have a good sleep'.

The possibility Dr Yeoh could become another radio host is slim, unless it is for an English channel. 'My Cantonese is still not good enough,' the Malaysian-born Chinese said.

Reading, travelling and meeting friends are some of the pursuits he intends to spend more time on.

'There's a whole range of topics and subjects and things in life that I have put aside and ignored and I'm looking forward to having time to look at those and, as some people say, to smell the roses and listen to the birds.'

One thing for sure is that after leaving politics, Dr Yeoh will stay in Hong Kong and continue to enjoy his daily swimming session, whether in sunshine or rain.