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.' He came from Dongguan city as a child, but lost touch with his family during the second world war. It was a painful experience that he is reluctant to recall. A peaceful mind was probably another reason for his long life, Mr Chan said. 'I am mostly calm and carefree. And I have many good friends.' The centenarian said he had smoked for many decades, but admitted that he was thinking of quitting because of the city's new legislation against smoking in public venues. 'Now I want to quit,' he said. 'Maybe the government should ban cigarette sales so I can give it up.'
