IMAGINE Wharf Cable - the territory's revolutionary television service which will take its first breath next Sunday - as a baby waiting to be delivered. The Secretary for Recreation and Culture, Mr James So, sees his government branch as the midwife making sure a happy, vibrant child is delivered.
Wharf's project director and head of TV operations, Yvonne Siu Sun, was sitting in the audience as Mr So delivered his magnanimous address to mark the 10-day countdown.
Ms Siu said to herself: ''God, if this is a baby, it has been a long labour''.
More than anyone else at Wharf Cable, Ms Siu deserves the title of expectant mother - it has even been said that Wharf has taken the place of the child she never had.
It is two years and 10 months since she gave into the persistent attempts by Wharf Cable's managing director, Stephen Ng, to get her on board Endeavour Wharf to create a programming strategy and, she admits, it has taken a lot out of her life.
Six months ago, Wharf was officially awarded the licence after being told it was in the can at the beginning of the year. A threat by China late last year that it would not honour contracts it had not approved after 1997 threw the already protracted process into doubt.