The silver-haired central banker (left) was swift to recognise the value of the column as a marketing platform from which to communicate his policy and more often express his personal opinion as he tried to shape the public's perception of our financial system.

No matter how much he had wanted to stay on, he accepted that 'all good things come to an end' in his farewell article.

Ironically, for his last piece Yam appeared to be suffering writer's block.

'There is so much I would like to say ... but the words escape me,' he wrote. 'Half an hour after starting I am still on paragraph two, when normally I should be finishing.

'Should I say this? Should I say it now or wait until I have retired and say it in my personal capacity using other channels? Is it appropriate for me to say it?

'All these questions kept revolving in my mind, keeping me from finishing. At last, a Chinese saying reminded me 'don't comment on things that are none of your business'.'

Yam did not give any hint of where his next stop might be, only saying he was considering whether to continue to write and publish.

'I derive pleasure from writing; publishing is only of secondary importance, at least to me,' he wrote.

He then went on to say how he had written far more articles than he had published, gave thanks for memory keys and flash drives and expressed the hope that he would have the energy to organise them all in retirement.

Oh, come on, Joseph, when's the book coming out?

From Russia with love

Various journalists around town received a Maxim's mooncake box from Russian aluminium producer Rusal yesterday, through Strategic Public Relations.

Among the recipients were reporters who visited the company's production base last year when Rusal was sounding out a potential Hong Kong listing - the five-day jaunt, estimated to have cost the company close to HK$10 million, included flying reporters by private jet and putting them up in the Ritz Carlton.

Rusal was forced to suspend the plan due to the financial crisis but last week it was reported to be reconsidering listing here.

It has also been reported to be racing to restructure about US$7.4 billion worth of debt to foreign banks.

That probably accounts for the more modest PR stunt this time.

HSBC heavyweights in town

Just like Real Madrid's Galacticos, HSBC Holdings is fielding a team of stars at a press briefing today.

The six-strong line-up comprises chairman Stephen Green and chief executive Michael Geoghegan, who usually take turns turn to show up in Hong Kong for post-results briefings, group finance director Douglas Flint, head of corporate, investment banking and markets Stuart Gulliver and the two local chiefs - Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen and Sandy Flockhart.

They all attended a full board meeting in town yesterday, something they have not done for two years.