Democratic legislator Lee Wing-tat got a useful lesson in the art of the possible in politics from a Liberal Party colleague during a House Committee meeting this week.
Mr Lee asked Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Michael Suen Ming-yeung about the SAR's relationship with Taiwan, and if money had been set aside in the budget for an official visit to the island.
Anticipating the answer to that one, functional constituency member Ronald Arculli stepped in to suggest to Mr Lee that he rephrase the question, and instead inquire whether funds for a visit could be allocated in the next budget.
It was a timely demonstration of putting an official on the spot and expanding the chances of getting what you are after, and Mr Lee was duly grateful.
Predictably, Mr Suen replied that no expenditure was planned at the moment, but the way is open for the question to get back on the agenda before the year is out.
Cheng An-kuo, former managing director of the Chung Hwa Travel Service - Taipei's de facto consulate in the SAR - proposed an interesting wager to media friends at a farewell dinner before he returned to Taiwan.
