Legislative Council president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing has asked readers of his column to decode his riddles once again, this time using anagrams of four public figures.
“An anagram of names of historical figures, if well constructed, can reflect people’s opinion on that person,” Tsang wrote in his AM730 column on Monday.
For instance, he wrote that Margaret Thatcher could be rearranged as That great charmer, and Adolf Hitler could be rearranged as Do real filth.
Tsang also included examples of more recent politicians, that President Clinton of the USA could be “To copulate, he finds interns” and George Bush could be “He bugs Gore.”
Tsang wrote some rearranged Donald Trump as “Damp old runt”: “Other than the word ‘old,’ it is obviously an extremely unfair description for Trump.”
The name of other US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton could be rearranged as “Only I can thrill.”
“The meaning of that is up to the readers,” he wrote.
He concluded his Monday column by giving three anagrams of public figures in Hong Kong: Hugely cunning, Calmer air and Gnaws at hunch.
“Can you guess who they are?” he wrote. “If you can, try one more: Sprang a jest!” (Readers who have wrestled without success with these questions will find the answers at the bottom of this article.)
In another column piece last Thursday, Tsang wrote about the Shermanesque statement, a statement by a potential candidate indicating that he or she will not run for a particular elected position.
It was often referred to as: “If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve.”
After explaining historical examples of using the Shermanesque statement, Tsang wrote: “There is no such promise like a Shermanesque statement in Hong Kong’s political culture. People do not usually believe it if political figures say they have no intention to run.”
Last week, Tsang said that he had some “insight” into the coming Chief Executive election through an eight-character riddle.
Netizens made guesses soon after, as most believed the answer was a phrase meaning the refusal of a preordained chief executive.
Tsang has recently also covered political topics in the column in riddles and conversations between two random men, without directly stating his own opinions, including ones hinting at criticism of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s governance.
Mr Leung has not yet said whether he will run for re-election.
”For answers to the anagrams, click here”
Our answers to the anagram question: Hugely cunning = Leung Chun-ying; Calmer air = Carrie Lam; Gnaws at hunch = Tsang Chun-wah (John Tsang); Sprang a jest = Jasper Tsang.
