Ex-Legco firebrand finds new passion in research at forefront of policy debate

'Wonkishness' has become a buzz phrase of the United States presidential election. George W. Bush does not seem to have enough of it. Vice-President Al Gore clearly does and self-parodies himself on late-night chat shows. Voters are comforted that wonks know what they are talking about but worry they do not get real people.

Hong Kong, of course, does not have wonks, it has civil servants who decide how to best manage the economy, environment, transport network and welfare system. They have a few wonkish academic friends who come up with ideas but do not presume to criticise. The Chief Executive has advisers, but they do not count as real wonks as they mainly come from vested business interests.

The pure policy wonk is a curious species whose natural habitat is the think-tank. Their interests are less money and power politics than changing the world for the better. They are inveterate networkers, usually very smart, always get the 'big picture' and become frustrated when others do not share their vision.

Judging by the departure of Christine Loh Kung-wai from the Legislative Council and rebirth as a research-driven policy activist through the recently launched Civic Exchange, it seems the era of the wonk may have arrived in Hong Kong.

Talking quick-fire policy while chomping through boiled eggs and herbal tea in the Mandarin Oriental Clipper lounge at 8am, it seems wonks are morning people. Ms Loh has just got back a DNA hair sampling and been told she is deficient in protein.

'I am a vegetarian so I just have to eat eggs all the time.'

But aren't eggs back on the health horror list? They were then they weren't. Wasn't that revised again recently? She is not sure and that seems to bother her.