Name: Kevin Hon, age 35. Recently selected as one of Eve magazine's 10 Hottest Men 2001. Job: Barrister-at-law, vice-president and general counsel of law firm. Responsibilities: Overseeing all legal matters within the company, such as drafting documents and giving advice on legal matters. Where did you go to school? St Louis School Hong Kong, both primary and secondary sections. Did you enjoy school? Not really. I saw it as a training ground and a passing phase. English was my favourite subject at secondary school. I made up my mind in Form Six or Seven that I wanted to do law. My family had always wanted me to be a doctor. My sister is one but I don't think I could have endured the training. Dissecting bodies does not appeal to me. Were you a good student? I didn't commit any serious breach of school rules but I left my studies for exams to the last minute. I was not the industrious type but did well enough to get to the University of Hong Kong. How long was your training? It took three years for the law degree and one year for the post-graduate certificate in law. What did you do when you left university? I went into pupilage with my masters. This is an apprenticeship with top barristers at their chambers. Apart from learning the basic skills of going to court and doing research, I learned a lot more than that - about life, how to behave properly, how to deal with different people, how to have the right attitudes and professionalism. Those things I think are of greater benefit than mere legal skills. In terms of my personal and career development this was very important. After doing that for a year I started my own practice. I was lucky I joined one of the best chambers around. With the assistance of the chamber head and other members, I was able to establish my practice pretty quickly. I ran that from 1991 until 1997, when I moved to my current company as an in-house lawyer. Career highlights? There is a case which had a big impact on my career, when I was fighting for 100 Vietnamese boat people who were suing the Hong Kong Government for false imprisonment. It was a long case - nine months. I learned a lot about the background and living conditions of these people. It was a lot more than just a law thing. Until then, I never realised how lucky I was. I might not have been rich but at least I had shelter. We visited them during the hearing, which changed my outlook on life. Are you planning further study? I am taking a Chartered Finance Analyst exam next June, which is run by an American institution. It means studying in my own time over three years. I think I have a pretty good grip on the legal side as far as business knowledge is concerned, but I want to get to know more about the finances. How will you juggle study, work and your passion, racing F2000 cars? The only difficulty is the exam date might clash with my race dates. But study-wise it's a matter of time management. I usually race six to eight weekends a year so it's not that much. Racing is a grown-up boy thing - like cars and guns - and I like to be in competitive sports. I always try to drive to win. I have been interested in cars since childhood. I admire Michael Schumacher because he is the sort who would give everything trying to win the race. Apart from driving skills he uses his brain. Is further study important today? Yes. When society is evolving so quickly you need to have good computer knowledge and have a wider perspective. Tips for young lawyers? For locals they really need to brush up on language skills because law is very much about mastery of the language. I see a lot of young lawyers who cannot handle the language very well, so that could be a hindrance. If you want to specialise in a particular area, you should choose an area you are really interested in rather than one which makes more money. Studying, working and going to court is hard work. It's not about improvising - a common misconception. Preparation is everything. Would you do anything differently? I would probably choose to go to the UK to study in one of those public schools. I think it gives you a different training altogether, more discipline. Law courses in Hong Kong include: University of Hong Kong, School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE): Tel 2111 8774. University of Hong Kong, Faculty of Law: Tel 2859 7040. City University of Hong Kong, School of Continuing and Professional Education: Tel 2788 7423. City University of Hong Kong: Tel 2788 7654.
