There must be intense speculation within the civil service over which policy secretaries will be among the first to be chosen by the Chief Executive-designate Tung Chee-hwa to join his office before the handover.
Mr Tung revealed that he was considering asking for policy secretaries to be seconded to help him before July 1, a move that caused some surprise in the civil service.
While the possibility of seconding senior officials to help the Chief Executive-designate was widely discussed by Preparatory Committee members about a year ago, not many took it as a serious option for Mr Tung, especially after he pledged during his election campaign that he would not make life difficult for incumbent policy chiefs.
Now that he has openly voiced his intention to have at least 'one or two' policy secretaries to help him out before the Special Administrative Region government is established, many in the administration must work out what the arrangement will mean to the senior civil service. Officers will inevitably ask who will be drafted to Mr Tung's office and how the question of split loyalties will be addressed.
Different theories have emerged over who will be among the first to be recruited. The basic assumption is that they will either have to enjoy a good relationship with China or have the relevant experience in an area seen as a priority by the provisional legislature.
Some say those seconded must include the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Nicholas Ng Wing-hui, with his background in electoral and nationality matters. Others suggest that the Secretary for Transport, Gordon Siu Kwing-chue, could be included. He is considered by many in civil service and political circles to have a very good working relationship with Beijing officials.
But of those names tipped, the most credible seems to be the Secretary for Home Affairs Michael Suen Ming-yeung.