Brothers Tsui remember their last supper with the Bushes

''We never had a friend that powerful. We're going to miss him. There's just no replacement for him,'' said Robert who helps his brother run the Peking Gourmet, the ex-President's favourite Chinese restaurant.

''The President just loves Chinese food. He would come in, roll up his sleeves, cross his legs, roll up the Peking Duck which is his favourite dish and have a good time,'' Robert reminisced.

The Tsui brothers don't expect to see Mr Bush and wife Barbara in the Peking Gourmet again anytime soon. Texas, where the Bushes now live, is a long way from Washington DC.

But George and Robert - whose father ran two restaurants in Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui before the family emigrated - say they will always savour the memory of the last time Mr Bush ate at their place.

That was last November 23 - 20 days after the President lost the elections. George Tsui, who had voted for his old friend, remembers the day well.

''The President had attended his mother's funeral that morning. He later came to the restaurant,'' he recalled.

The President had obviously wanted to get things off his mind. But that didn't stop him from posing for pictures with the Tsui brothers to celebrate his last visit to his favourite Chinese restaurant. ''He came for dinner and to say goodbye to us,'' Robert recalled.

Three weeks later George and his wife got to see Mr Bush again, this time at the White House. The couple were invited to the outgoing President's last White House Christmas party.

One of George's proudest possessions is a picture of him and his wife with President Bush and his wife Barbara standing in front of the White House Christmas tree.

''I feel really honoured. We were the only Chinese out of the 300 guests at that party,'' said George.

The Tsui brothers are not holding their breath for a visit by the new president Bill Clinton and wife Hillary.

While the Bushes' preference for Chinese food is no secret - a taste they acquired in the 70s when Mr Bush was the top US envoy in China - President Clinton's much-publicised choice is hamburgers and decaffinated coffee at McDonald's.

But the Tsuis are not giving up hope yet. George noted with pride that the Peking Gourmet was one of the caterers for a Clinton campaign celebration after Mr Clinton's victory.

''He has tried our food,'' Robert said. ''And you never know, he may decide to come one day. News of good restaurants spread fast in Washington,'' he added.

Not that the Peking Gourmet is lacking in VIP customers. Among those who continue to frequent it are the powerful Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, and influential Republican Senator Alan Simpson, a close friend of Mr Bush.

What is missing though is the sudden swarm of Secret Service bodyguards whenever the President ate there, the familiar faces of the Bushes at their favourite table, and the occasional catering for parties at the White House.

The Tsui brothers console themselves with the ex-President's parting promise. ''He said he will definitely drop by if he is ever in Washington DC,'' George said.

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