DOWN to the land auction yesterday, to stand at the back with the analysts whispering ''who is that?'' to each other.
The analysts left disappointed and predictably the stock market went south faster than a hyperactive swallow aboard a Qantas jet.
There was one optimist we spoke to who claimed ''one auction does not a nuclear winter make.'' However, we had a lovely time being elbowed out of the way by famous property developers (except the big wigs who didn't turn up from Wheelock, Cheung Kong, Sun Hung Kai and so forth).
Lai See forgives the particular property developer who stuck his elbow into our side, because there seemed to be so much pushing and shoving going on, most of it caused by colleagues in the press.
One of the biggest tycoons down at City Hall yesterday was Robert Ng of Sino Land. He didn't elbow anyone, but did brush past Lai See seconds after the Tai Po site next door to the $2.1 billion plot he bought in March was sold to CITIC for $950 million. He was not commenting or smiling.
''Please, I must make a phone call first,'' Mr Ng said as he slipped past, not to be seen again that afternoon.
