Who has the most power over who is chosen as Chief Executive? Not President Jiang Zemin , as many might think, or any of his Politburo colleagues. Not even the 400-strong Selection Committee, for which nominations have just opened. Far more influential is Democratic Party Chairman Martin Lee Chu-ming, who jokes Beijing's hatred of him means he can ruin any candidate's chances, simply by voicing his support. He knows both the main contenders: He has often met former Executive Councillor Tung Chee-hwa during early morning jogs on the Peak. He also has business ties with solicitor Lo Tak-shing, one of whose partners is a friend of Mr Lee's, and often sends him case-work. But Mr Lee, aware of the power he could exercise over the result of the race, refused to reveal his preference, when asked by our colleagues at Ming Pao. 'I don't want to harm one by throwing my support behind him, or benefit him by opposing him,' he said. Computer addict Leung Yue-chun, the 15-year-old boy who collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital after playing an electronic war game for six hours, doesn't seem to have learnt from his experience. No sooner was he discharged and taken home, than he rushed back to his computer. The teenager's first question to his brother was: 'Did you save the game for me before I was sent to hospital?' Later, questioned by a local TV crew, he relented slightly, and promised to take better care of his health by moderating his use of electronic games. But the teenager explained this only meant he wouldn't use them for more than six hours at a stretch. Some people are happier than others about next year's transfer of sovereignty. But few, if any, can beat the enthusiasm of three retired mainland railway workers. Despite being in their 70s, the trio plan to celebrate the handover by cycling from Beijing to Hong Kong, along a new railway line now under construction. They have already begun a practice run through northern China, distributing pamphlets about the Basic Law along the way. A Xinhua (New China News Agency) dispatch even claimed one of the trio has refused to cut his hair since National Day on October 1, 1994, and vowed only to do so next July 1, as a symbol of China ridding itself of the shame of past humiliations by foreign powers. The only problem is that, despite all these shows of patriotism, Beijing has not yet said if it will grant the double-entry permit they need to enter Hong Kong. More news from across the border: the Sunshine Hotel in Fuzhou, capital of China's Fujian province, has come up with a startling new recruitment procedure. Potential staff are told they needn't worry about changing sheets or cleaning rooms, services many mainland hotels scarcely bother with. Instead the main criterion for being hired is an ability to sing the national anthem while they work, and several applicants report being rejected for failing to do so.
