Tsang takes time out for a date with Anson Chan
Political pundits speculate she may run for chief executive, but there was no hint of rivalry yesterday as Anson Chan Fang On-sang and Donald Tsang Yam-kuen met for a gathering of old friends in Macau.
Mr Tsang and his wife, Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei, had lunch with Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah at the Legislative Assembly before they met Mrs Chan, the former chief secretary, and a number of former executive council members.
A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office said the former executive councillors met from time to time. 'We often spend time together,' Mr Tsang said as he left Macau at 10pm.
There have been rumours of growing friction between the two in recent years, with Mrs Chan's appearance at the July 1 rally last year apparently stoking the tensions. Speculation of a rift was fuelled last month when Mr Tsang said he would leave Hong Kong after retiring to avoid being seen as meddling with the government - a comment apparently aimed at Mrs Chan.
While Mr Tsang travelled to Macau in style by helicopter, Mrs Chan was, in comparison, roughing it with the rest of the travelling public on a ferry.
With her were Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, executive director of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups; Lingnan University president Edward Chen Kwan-yiu; Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp chairman Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen; and barrister Denis Chang Khen-lee - all former members of last governor Chris, now Lord, Patten's cabinet.
Mrs Chan said: 'I had a great time.' She would not say whether she and Mr Tsang had discussed the chief executive election.
It is understood Mr Tsang and Mr Ho discussed preparations for a forum on co-operation in the Pearl River Delta, which will be held in Kunming , Yunnan in June.
