Smoking, no sex - and still alive at 107

Tai Po villager Chan Chi has lived in three centuries and seems to have spurned much of the perceived wisdom for reaching such a great age - he has lived alone for more than 70 years and has smoked for many decades.

He speaks and hears clearly and seems to have a spring in his step. People meeting him for the first time often guess that he is barely 80 years old.

The 107-year-old, perhaps the oldest person in Hong Kong, looked much younger than many 'juniors' at the 26th annual feast for Tai Po's elderly yesterday.

'I don't know why I have lived this long,' Mr Chan said. 'Maybe it has to do with the fact that I have lived a sexless life for many years - since I was in my 30s.'

The former chef has claimed the title of Tai Po's oldest person for three consecutive years. A total of 5,955 seniors, all above 73, attended this year's feast held in 10 restaurants. Twenty-four of them were 97 or older.

Mr Chan, who lives in Fu Shin village, often starts the day with morning exercise and eats a healthy variety of food. 'I am not very choosy about food, although I don't eat very fatty stuff. I often make soup for myself.'