Simon, 17, is a well-mannered, courteous teenager. After shampooing the hair and massaging the scalp of his middle-aged female client who, judging by her smart appearance, can afford to take care of herself, the trainee hairdresser at top Central salon theFirm escorts her to her seat, hands her the latest glossy magazines and offers her a drink. As a stylist cuts the woman's hair, Simon watches attentively; he is quick and eager to perform essential but menial tasks such as passing the scissors and sweeping the floor. It's a small role, but before the happily coiffed woman leaves she makes a point of commenting on Simon's performance to Pauline Rowley, theFirm's owner.
'Clients love him,' says Rowley. 'Almost everyone comments on his [washing] technique, his calm, polite manner and the amount of care he takes with clients. That might sound a relatively small point but you'd be surprised at how some [trainees] and even experienced stylists take next to no care of their clients. There are plenty of places offering a good haircut these days but it's the personal experience, the customer care, which sticks in people's minds and is what will bring them back to the salon.'
The praise comes thick and fast. Stylist Ian Gough, whom Simon shadowed last month - trainees rotate among staff to learn different techniques - says he is 'blown away' by the high quality of his work and believes he has a natural talent for the profession. He cites how, without being told, Simon would assess a client's hair during a consultation with Gough and nine times out of 10 would hand over the correct shampoo before being asked.
'That comes from Simon - he hasn't been taught to do that,' he says. 'I honestly think it is inbred. If I ask him to do something he'll do it and do it well. Some of the others [trainees] won't even try. And it isn't easy, especially when English isn't your first language. You have to be really motivated.'
Of course there are many trainees like Simon. But what is most remarkable is that he comes from an unfortunate background: he is the product of a broken home, with little education, who has been passed over by potential employers. Simon is reluctant to disclose his personal history, but while many of his peers end up in jail or on drugs, he is taking steps towards a positive future, earning money and beginning what could be a successful career.
He is one of hundreds of youngsters being given a helping hand from local businesses such as theFirm under a scheme called Caring Company. Initiated by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) in 2002, its mission is 'to build a caring community spirit through cultivating corporate citizenship and strategic partnership between the business and social service sector'. Rather than donating money to charity, companies large and small and from all fields work with any of Hong Kong's 298 non-government organisations (NGOs) such as the HK Aids Foundation, the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong and Oxfam. They employ people from vulnerable groups, such as those with disabilities or disadvantaged backgrounds, orchestrate voluntary staff participation in community-service activities, and support employees to sit on the committees of service organisations.