Bulletin Winter 1988

Q. In retrospect, h ow do y o u fee l abou t y o u r teaching career in H o n g K o n g over a quarter o f a century? A. I think there is probably no other place in this world that has undergone changes for the better so rapidly and over such a long period o f time as Hong Kong. I would say that the people we train through our MBA programmes play impor tant roles in enabling this change. I would ex press my feelings in two simple words: ‘exciting' and 'satisfying'. I am especially pleased that we are able to train graduates o f such ahigh calibre. Q. L e t us turn briefly to y o u r new 'career' as the associate director o f the O ffice o f Industrial and Business Development, which is a new en tity o f the University. What made y o u decide to accept such an appointment? A. Although the one-year appointment is semi- voluntary in that I do not receive a salary, I am pleased to be able to contribute to the Univer sity in this unique way. The Vice-Chancellor's innovative ideas and plans excited me, and Mrs. Espy and I wanted to stay in Hong Kong for another year. Q. You must have excellent contacts w ith the business w o rld in Ho n g K o n g through y o u r past students. Does this help the w o rk o f the O ffice in developing contacts and relationships w ith outside bodies? A. I am responsible mainly for the so-called 'back room role' because both Dr. Liang and the Vice-Chancellor have quickly developed many useful new contacts. But I am happy to pro vide support in administrative areas such as drafting proposals and papers and acting in an advisory capacity. The title ‘Associate Director' rather than 'Adviser' was chosen because it is more 'hands-on' and it enables me to become the acting director during Dr. Liang's absences from Hong Kong. Q. Turning to a more personal side, what w ill y o u do a fter the year's assignment? A. Mrs. Espy and I w ill settle in Kansas in the United States because one o f our children and some o f our grandchildren live there. We shall miss our friends in Hong Kong and at the University very much but I hope we can pay return visits to Hong Kong at intervals o f two or three years. Q. What do y o u plan to do back in the States? A. There are indeed many things that I can do. Of these perhaps the more logical choice is to be a part-time lecturer at a local university. The second thing that I want to do is something that puzzles my Chinese friends here: I would like to be a retail salesman and work for Sears Roebuck. The third possibility is to become a tax consultant to individuals and small com panies. I want to continue to work in jobs that involve contacts w ith people. Q. Perhaps y o u are interested in selling securities? A. Certainly not! I would rather sell refrigerators and washing machines than securities. Q. F inally, what are y o u r hobbies apart f r o m work? A. In the past, one o f my favourite hobbies in Hong Kong has been to conduct visitors from the United States on what I consider the most exciting sightseeing tour one can have in Hong Kong. That involves riding the MTR to Kwun Tong ， then taking the elevator to the top floor o f almost any industrial building. I often go to the Wai Yip Industrial Building because it is easily accessible and it is open to everyone. From the top, we walk thirteen floors down the staircases and in the course o f our descent we see all sorts o f factories at work. It is very ex citing to see Hong Kong factories producing such a wide variety o f products and to see how efficiently they operate ！ Q. D o y o u have any recreational hobb y as well? A. In theory, yes, and that is reading. However, I am always so busy that I simply do not find time to read. Perhaps I w ill do this after my retirement. Q. With y o u r plans, do y o u th in k y o u can really retire? A. A good question, but we w ill see. 12