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Anita Lam

Where are you most likely to be at 10am on a Sunday? Taking my daughter to her confirmation class at church.

Where are you most likely to be at 10pm on a Friday?

I hate routines, an attitude that often gets me into trouble. Last Friday, I was in Lan Kwai Fong; the week before, I was at home.

Where do you live? Sandy Bay, Pokfulam.

Where do you go to escape in Hong Kong? My escape is probably introspection. I'm basically a mental drifter, but I don't need a quiet, isolated place to think.

Whom in Hong Kong do you most admire? About 99 per cent of the people I meet. There is a lot to admire about people here - particularly my family and colleagues.

Whom do you least admire? The remaining one per cent, which includes many managers. Management style is what cripples Hong Kong.

What inspires you? Young people with imagination

and enthusiasm.

What has been your most haunting experience? Visiting a pharaoh's tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. It had a spirit about it that transcended time.

In your opinion, what is the most beautiful spot in Hong Kong? Anywhere that looks like a seaside resort. The area round Shek O on Hong Kong Island is very pretty.

Where is the ugliest? The bits that look like Gotham City in Batman. There are a lot of them, but I don't want to upset anyone by naming their neighbourhood - most people have little choice about where they live.

What do you consider to be your biggest achievement? It's always the most recent one. Right now, it would have to be getting published in the magazine Nature.

What is your favourite food? The Mediterranean cuisine at Grappa's in Pacific Place, Admiralty, Thai dishes at the Myanmar Thai Palace in Aberdeen, and a Latin American meal made by my wife. It's all great.

What do you love about your job? Research is a fantastic occupation when it's going well. It's got the right combination of individuality and creativity, and is very satisfying.

What makes you sweat? Being in a crowd, and crossing roads. Worst of all is walking round Hong Kong Island in the summer: there's always another flight of concrete steps.

What makes you smile? Dry wit.

What is your best virtue? Dry wit. Well, that's my view

anyway. Others say it's honesty.

What has been your biggest mistake? I made most of my mistakes when I was younger from a lack of confidence. A big one was not accepting a free trip to Harvard University when I was a graduate student. Americans are world leaders in science, and although I was excited that someone famous liked my PhD thesis, the thought of going was too nerve-racking.

What would you like to be reincarnated as? Having lived once is enough. But if pushed to return, it would have to be as a human being. I'd be happy to be myself again, but better organised and with more hair.

What are your plans for the future? My immediate plans are usually about getting through Mondays. Mid-term, I'd like to get on to Survivor, the American reality game show, and show them a thing or two about party games and cooking rice. Also, to finish a book that has lingered half-finished for too long.

Give us some wisdom ... Think deeply; be straightforward.

Peter Lucas has been teaching anatomy at Hong Kong University for nine years, and has most recently been researching colour vision in humans and primates.



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