A vocational school graduate has won Hong Kong's first gold medal in a global job skills competition.
George Chan Chun-wai, 22, a graduate of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), beat participants from New Zealand, Canada, Britain and Australia in the information technology (IT) personal computer and network support category in the 35th World Skills Competition held last November in Quebec, Canada.
Now a bachelor's degree student at Oxford Brookes University in Britain, Mr Chan was among the 16-strong team representing Hong Kong in the biennial contest.
While the technical skills of participants from all five countries was high, Mr Chan proved himself more flexible than the others in following procedures. This versatility is regarded by many as one of strengths of SAR people.
'The most difficult task was to assemble two unfamiliar PC systems with no user manual provided. No one could accomplish it. When other people kept struggling with the most difficult parts, I skipped some to move on. In the end, I completed more than they did.' 'In a trouble-shooting session, I ran two computers simultaneously to save time while they did one after another,' Mr Chan said.
He said his success was thanks to his flexibility and his calmness.
But Vocational Training Council deputy chairman Ng Tat-lun, who led the team, said strictly following set procedures was good practice. 'Training in foreign countries is usually very strict. Apprentices there strictly follow step-by-step, the instructions they have been taught.
