If Henry Tang Ying-yen ever echoes Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's expressed ambition to 'retire and go back to farming' in 2007, he could just be telling the truth.
Mr Tang revealed yesterday he does in fact have a farm - a property in Sheung Shui growing medicinal mushrooms. But the financial secretary said there was a long way to go before 2007 and all he was interested in now was doing his job.
Mr Tang and Chief Secretary Mr Tsang are frontrunners to succeed Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa when he steps down in 2007.
Both have been cagey about their ambitions. Referring to Mr Tsang's professed interest in agriculture, the finance chief said: 'Actually, of all the officials, I am the one who has a farm.'
The land is growing ling zhi, prized as a spiritual relaxant and tonic in Chinese medicine.
Mr Tang was careful to steer well clear of issues regarded as Mr Tsang's domain.
