The private meetings between Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa and a handful of former senior officials have prompted intense speculation about the real purpose of these get-togethers.
Questions about the background and calibre of the top echelons in the civil service as well as their intentions after the handover and their suitability for sensitive posts might have been touched on during the meetings, but the sessions were held behind closed doors.
Serving civil servants are reportedly anxious and worried, wondering whether the discussions have affected their future.
No doubt these rumours reached Mr Tung and the leader-in-waiting felt obliged to calm the civil servants by urging an end to the speculation.
In short, his message was that there is no hidden agenda in these sessions.
He made it clear that he had not made plans to draft the former senior officials to his future governing team and the meetings were meant to bolster his understanding on a wide range of policy issues and some background of serving officers.