EVERYONE wants to be number one. But being number two does not come cheap, as a tycoon proved yesterday with a flamboyant bid which landed him the most expensive car number plate in the world.
In an ostentatious spending spree even by Hongkong's standards, Mr Wong Ming-hung forked out a record $9.5 million for the number ''2'' licence plate that formerly graced the limousine of Financial Secretary Mr Hamish Macleod.
After a toughly-contested auction, the chairman of Wing Hing Lung property development company found himself in the bizarre position of having a licence plate worth considerably more than his Ford Scorpio, Lexus and BMW cars put together.
In typical Hongkong style, however, the Japan-born businessman shrugged off the fuss, claiming to have found himself a bargain.
So determined was Mr Wong to claim his prize that even well-heeled rival Mr Cecil Chao walked off a beaten man while the bidding stood at a modest $7.6 million.
''I'm happy with hitting the mark at $9.5 million. The price is reasonable. I expected to get it at over $10 million,'' said a cheery Mr Wong afterwards.