PROFILE David Nendick, Secretary for Monetary Affairs for the past eight years, leaves the job today. As his own toughest critic, he gives himself six to seven out of 10 for his performance - but the man cited by colleagues as ''refreshingly'' candid also makes no apologies for controversial decisions taken during his term. And his description of Hongkong as a merry-go-round going a little too fast for comfort does not stop him hoping for further work linked with the territory when he returns to the UK, as LAURA TYSON discovered.
TODAY is Mr David Nendick's last day as Hongkong's Secretary for Monetary Affairs after eight years in the post - and in typical fashion, he will be working until practically the minute he leaves for the airport to catch a flight to the United Kingdom.
Respected by peers and colleagues as principled yet pragmatic, Mr Nendick is credited with steering the territory's financial system through a series of political and economic crises and subsequent regulatory reforms.
Perhaps his own toughest critic, the ebullient career regulator assessed his overall performance during his tenure in Hongkong as worth ''between six and seven'' out of 10.
Nonetheless, pre-empting potential detractors, he refused to admit any lapse in judgement and made no apologies for controversial actions taken since being seconded to Hongkong from the Bank of England in 1985.
And if that was arrogant, then so be it.
