KEITH PEIRIS insists he is just a 'normal kid'. But as the 12-year-old computer prodigy takes the Internet world by storm and is poised to expand his multi-million dollar empire into China, it is something of an understatement.
The youngster heads one of the leading Web design companies in Canada and has pressed the flesh with the likes of Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa.
Last week he was among a 350-strong, nine-day trade delegation that accompanied Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
He was in constant demand during his three-day stay in Hong Kong - a whirl of power talks, interviews and speeches - but after a quick fax to the Canadian Consulate requesting a meeting, I field a call from Keith's father, Deepal. 'You want to interview my son? Come tomorrow at 8am - you'll have half an hour.'
The next day I'm waiting at the exhibition hall of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in Kowloon Tong. The room is empty, but it will soon be teeming with technology-obsessed youngsters determined to hear their new idol accept yet another award: this time HKPC's first 'Outstanding Digi Youth' award.
It is 8.10am and he still hasn't arrived. Suddenly a sea of suits spills from a lift. But still no sign of the young Peiris. Then I catch a glimpse of a small figure striding among them. Dressed in bespoke business suit and scarlet tie, he looks a little like a schoolboy on his way to a wedding banquet. His black shoes shine. His gelled-back ebony hair gleams in the morning light.
He nods at me, but shyly lowers his head as he climbs into a chair. He's fidgety and a little nervous. At 1.5 metres, his legs dangle from the chair. He really is just another kid, I decide. But as soon as I start firing questions at him, his demeanour changes. The child vanishes and the self-assured business mogul takes over. He may have the voice of a pre-pubescent 12-year-old, but his delivery is that of a cocksure entrepreneur.