The doyen of the diplomatic corps leaves Hong Kong today, hoping to take home to South Africa lessons about how China developed its tourism industry so swiftly and effectively.
The able young diplomat who skilfully guided Pretoria's presence in the territory through the transitional period from apartheid to democracy is also making a career change; experience he has gained in Hong Kong has leapfrogged Michael Farr into one of the most challenging posts in his nation.
He goes back to establish the new Tourism Business Council. Part of his charter is to lead the South African tourism industry into the new century as the most profitable business sector in the nation, a role now filled by mining.
There's a lot more to this than watching zebras in a game park, as Mr Farr is well aware. In Hong Kong, he has become a keen observer of our tourism and travel industries; part of his job will no doubt be to try to encourage the legendary hotel chains of Asia to invest in property, training and travel related industries in job-starved South Africa.
Having been to South Africa three times in the past five years, spanning the change from apartheid to freedom, I think Mr Farr faces a tough task. The scenery is gorgeous, the food amazingly inexpensive and appetising, the wines glorious, the prices affordable and the people, black, white, coloured and Chinese, delightful.
But then, there is crime. Central Johannesburg is a terrifying no-go area where street crime reaches appalling levels. There is little political about this; black unemployment can reach well over 50 per cent and in a land with no social security infrastructure, a man without a job and with a knife turns desperate.
