When Peter Tsao Kwang-yung was named secretary for home affairs in 1989 he made history by becoming the highest ranking Chinese civil servant in the history of Hong Kong.
He may also have been one of the most unpopular senior public servants with many of his staff.
When he became director of information services in 1983 he swiftly earned the nickname 'the R and S man'. That stood for 'reprimand and sack' and reflected his tyrannical style.
Tsao - who died in Bangkok on Sunday, aged 72 - was a mixture of arrogance and efficiency. He could be relaxed, good humoured and charming when he felt like it; he often preferred to be aloof and rude.
While he was Home Affairs supremo, security staff stood alertly at attention in the lift lobby of the Southorn Centre in Wan Chai, where his headquarters were located.
When he swept up to the door in his chauffeured government car, the uniformed staff had a lift in the privately owned building held open and waiting for him to stride in; no waiting about for Tsao.