Tung Chee-hwa is expected to follow family tradition by naming his three new grandchildren, relatives said yesterday.
As the grandfather and family figurehead, he is set to follow the lead of his father, Tung Chao-yung, by giving the younger generation a clan name.
The arrival of triplets on Wednesday morning means Mr Tung now has five grandchildren, three girls and two boys.
The character zhong, or chung - which translates as 'middle' and is the key character in the word for China - emerged last night as the main character in the new generation's names.
Mr Tung's father chose lieh, which means 'establishment' or 'foundation' for the Chief Executive's children, producing Audrey Slighton Tung Lieh-yuan, Andy Tung Lieh-cheung and Alan Tung Lieh-sing.
But Mr Tung is likely to let the mother decide the triplets' English names, a family member said.