Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 1997

Experience Sharing (Cont.) Florence Lo (business administration) Florence spent six weeks working for the representative office in Beijing of Taikoo Sugar Ltd., a Hong Kong-based company. She was given three assignments. The first was marketing research; she had to compare 50 supermarkets in terms of hygiene, sales, prices, and display. The second was organizing a promotional campaign to boost Taikoo products. The third was writing up administrative guidelines in Chinese, such as procedures for leave application, booking systems and finance management. Unlike run-of-the-mill summer jobs in Hong Kong, more often secured for money and to kill time than anything else, Florence's job had much to teach her. 'There are many differences between the operation of the retail market in Hong Kong and on the mainland. For instance, the supermarkets in China never clean their shelves or check their stock. These are the responsibilities of the salespersons of the products, who have to clean the area allocated for the display of their products, and to ensure that their products are in adequate supply. Customer psychology is also different. In organizing a lucky draw to promote Taikoo products, I discovered that mainland shoppers had very little interest in it because they felt they had no chance of winning.' Florence's experience has given her the confidence to work on the mainland after graduation. Does she have a word of advice for those who are also planning to work there? 'It's important to localize. Methods and working styles that work well in Hong Kong may not on the mainland. Be flexible.' Florence Lo Danny Cheng (history) Danny was 'ecstatic' at getting the job at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japan. Perhaps his academic interest explains it: 'I'm a history student and ！ intend to pursue graduate studies in history. In secondary school history lessons are focussed on the modern and ancient periods. I'm glad to have the chance to study contemporary history.' He spent the first three weeks of the five-week training programme attending lectures by staff from the museum's publication and research department. The lectures covered the period from late Qing dynasty to victory of the war of resistance against Japan. In the last two weeks, the students were shown how to be a museum guide — how to gesture and enunciate. There were also frequent visits to other museums, where they observed how exhibits were arranged and displayed, and how things were administered in general. 'I've always had confidence in China. Now I think I might have been over idealistic. China's has many limitations in terms of education, population, transportation. But I feel a greater affinity for the country now than before. I would like to pursue graduate studies on the mainland.' Danny (right) at the Museum of the War of the Chinese People's Resistance Against Japan Chinese University Bulletin - Autumn . Winter 1997 18