Donald Tsang Yam-kuen yesterday made a de facto declaration of his candidacy for the chief executive poll - by explaining why he had yet to join the fray.
Falling short of a straight announcement, he moved quickly to launch a veiled challenge to his prospective rival, Alan Leong Kah-kit of the Civic Party, saying that a responsible candidate should not just roll out idealistic visions and spending plans.
Mr Tsang brought up the question of his candidacy in his opening address at a regular question-and-answer session with legislative councillors.
Despite being an open secret, he has not made known his plan to seek a second term, a move which has upset Hong Kong's Beijing loyalists and drawn criticism about his inaction in rallying support from the Election Committee.
Sources close to Mr Tsang have attributed the delay in making an announcement to an unwillingness to compromise his daily workload.
Once Mr Tsang declared his candidacy, any election-related expenses incurred would also be counted as part of his election expenses under the limit of HK$9.5 million.