Most memorable moment: Lily gave birth to a baby girl in 1993, and local fans deluged Feign with letters of congratulation and gifts. Baby Crystal even got a birth announcement in the SCMP.

Interesting fact: Feign turned down offers of large cash sums for original drawings of Lily naked. "She is naked every time I draw her... how else can I put clothes on her body?" he says.

X-Factor: One of the most all-encompassing representations of Hong Kong, and a favorite with Westerners for its parallel wit. Apparently Lily was also considered fodder for the wandering libido.

Old Master Q

(lo fu zi, "learned one")
Creator: Alfonso Wong, who came to Hong Kong soon after the rise of the CCP government in 1949.

Description: Decked out in his red-tipped skullcap, bellbottoms and long-sleeved apron-style shirt, Master Q is a simple man who lives in a quintessentially Chinese world.

When and where: Starting out as a comic strip in the "Sing Tao Daily" in 1962, Old Master Q has made his mark in more than 18,000 comic strips, 400 volumes and seven films - the latest a 3-D animation version by Tsui Hark, starring Nicholas Tse and Cecelia Cheung in 2001.

Sidekick: Big Potato, Master Q's obese-headed best friend and loyal sidekick, acts as the comic relief and suffers the lion's share of mishap and misfortune.

Most memorable moment: The skullcap appears to levitate above Master Q's head whenever he is shocked or surprised. Perhaps that's because he’s bald.

Interesting fact: As a classroom punishment, the young Wong was told to kneel with his hands behind his back and a pen in his mouth. In defiance, he would draw on the floor, using his tongue to manipulate the pen.

X-Factor: Old Master Q was as much lighthearted entertainment as positive social force in the 60s, when refugees from the mainland flooded into Hong Kong. He provided a sense of empathy, humor and community during times of economic and political hardship.

Lap Sap Chung

Creator: Artist and writer Arthur Hacker, who fathered many government propaganda posters, was the bright spark behind the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department's litterbug.

Description: Lap Sap Chung is a leprous, budget Godzilla, who litters, spits, farts, smokes and generally commits random acts of juvenile hooliganism as he stomps across Hong Kong. He was created as an anti-mascot for the Clean Hong Kong campaign in the 70s but awoke from his lair in 2001 for the same purpose.

When and where: First introduced in 1972, Lap Sap Chung has since become a household name. He can be seen on old government posters, TV ads and, recently, on the campaign's website, where members of the public can beat him with everything from a broomstick to a hammer, all to instill cleanliness in the civic soul.

Sidekick: Although his "bad boy" image dictates he have no official friends, we think former governor Lord MacLehose deserves a mention as the officiator at Lap Sap Chung's birth ceremony in 1972.

Most memorable moment: A new and improved 3-D Lap Sap Chung appears in Wai Ka-fai's "Fantasia" (2004), where he mischievously hops about as Andy Lau's cursed incarnation. He is able to evict the pink contents of his bowels at will, at one point smothering actor Lau Ching-Wan in yoghurt-like expulsions.

Interesting fact: When the Clean Hong Kong campaign kicked off, a giant statue of Lap Sap Chung was erected, appropriately enough, in Statue Square.

X-Factor: Despite their best efforts, the FEHD's red-spotted lizard-bug has become a bizarrely endearing anti-hero for the Hong Kong public. Who wouldn't love a government-endorsed figure with the above-mentioned special powers?

Tung Chee-hwa

Creator: There is debate here. Some say Mr. and Mrs. Tung, others the Central Government, but we have reason to believe that renowned political cartoonist Zunzi is responsible.

Description: This fish-lipped, hawk-nosed and turtle-necked character was in equal measures loved and despised by Hong Kong people, who followed his antics in "Ming Pao Daily," "Apple Daily" and "Next Magazine" as he bungled the leadership of a poverty- and disease-stricken land, before finally calling it a day this year.

When: First began amusing the local public in about 1996.

Sidekick: There are a few contenders for this esteemed title. First is Regina "Broomhead" Ip, famed for her ability to insult the intelligence. Then there's Donald "Bowtie" Tsang, for never involving the government in commercial favoritism. And, before even Tung's time, Deng Xiaoping for his fondness for baths. You decide.

Most memorable moment: Too many to mention.

Interesting fact: Zunzi says Tung may reappear in print, but only if he decides to rear his head in public life again.

X-Factor: Once again, the list is seemingly endless. But we'd start with the lips.

McDull

Creator: McDull is the spawn of Brian Tse, who writes the dialogue, and Alice Mak, who illustrates with her instantly recognizable style.

Description: McDull is a young piglet undergoing the trials of growing up as an unintelligent yet highly motivated working-class Hong Kong youth. Abandoned by his father at birth, McDull is raised by a mother who has high but unrealistic aspirations for her son. The cartoon typifies Hong Kong life - the daily use of buses and ferries interspersed with visits to the temple and Wellcome - hence its immense success with local residents of all ages.

When and where: McDull started life as a sidekick to McMug, who was created in 1988, but became the main event after appearing in the 2001 film "My Life As McDull."

Sidekick: In the movie, our little swine teams up with a human-shaped poo, who goes by the rather unsubtle name Excreman (See-lo Yun in Cantonese, meaning mixed-shit person). McDull gives him a scarf and a spittoon to don as headgear, and follows his fecal friend into a depressing dung-world, where Excreman decides his dream is to become flower fertilizer.

Most memorable moment: McDull giving birth to Excreman after a Christmas dinner.

Interesting fact: "My Life as McDull" has won a number of awards, including one for it's soundtrack, and a French version of the script was written and released in cinemas across France.

X-Factor: Existentialist reflection on Hong Kong life, yet cute enough to appeal to young children.

Freddy the Weatherman

Creator: Despite TVB's policy on a media blackout for information on Freddy, our sources tell us he was created in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and that TVB still pays a license fees for his use.

Description: Yellow-suited, pink-faced weatherman on TVB's nightly forecasts. His exploits include getting zapped in the behind by lightning and sun rays, being blown out of the frame by wind, whistling, and incessantly murmuring: "Ooooh" and "Aaaaah."

When and where: First appeared on TVB in the early 80s and still going strong. His early life in Milwaukee is largely unknown.

Sidekick: Unfortunately, one of Hong Kong's most beloved characters is also one of its most abused, as Freddy is beaten down by almost every weather element known to man. Some argue Freddy is the star and the weathergirl is his lowly sidekick, but his only animated friend is the sun - unless it's more than 30 degrees Celsius.

Most memorable moment: Freddy doesn't have a wide range of moments in his life, so he clinches the award for saddest Hong Kong cartoon icon. Our favorite is his expression as he receives an enema from a lightning bolt.

Interesting fact: Freddy may have changed little over the years, but the skyline behind him has to be regularly updated to keep abreast of our ever-changing city.

X-Factor: He's sad, abused, makes funny noises, wears yellow and has appeared on your TV screen every night for more than two decades. Go figure.

Thanks to the HK Food & Environmental Hygiene Department for their assistance.