Tsang served nine years as the city’s finance chief until he resigned in December 2016 to run in the chief executive election of March the following year.

After the unsuccessful bid, Tsang, who hinged his campaign on the message of hope and unity, remained popular, with wide speculation on his next step.

On Thursday, Tsang again shot down the suggestion of a political comeback or another bid for the top job in the next leadership race in 2022.

No regrets or looking back for busy ex-finance chief John Tsang

“The first run is always full of passion. To do it a second time is like banging one’s own fists against the wall,” he said.

He observed that political polarisation remained after Lam took office, but called on all sides to work to improve the situation.

On a lighter note, Tsang and Law took a jab at Leung by recalling the former leader’s heavy-handed response when Tsang was accidentally hit by an egg meant for Leung and thrown by a protester at a 2013 town hall.

Law said of Tsang, who was not hurt in the incident: “He was joking there could be salmonella in the eggs and that he might sue the activist for murder.”

Leung at the time, however, condemned the move and an ambulance was summoned as Tsang was escorted to the washroom to clean up. The latter declined a trip to the hospital and carried on with the event.

John Tsang launches broadside at politicians ‘ruining city’s systems’

At Thursday’s forum, Tsang quipped: “I’ve always known the activist was not coming after me, but Leung.”

He also poked fun at Lam and her predecessor, both of whom were known to be stoic politicians. Tsang recommended they listen to Disney song Let it Go from the film Frozen.