JARDINE MATHESON IS the greybeard of Hong Kong conglomerates and its management training scheme is the oldest in town, dating back to the mid-19th century when the iconic hong made its somewhat dubious fortune trading opium.
British graduates, usually from Oxford, Cambridge or Edinburgh, became officers aboard tea-clippers, learning the core shipping business along the way and then running various other Jardine enterprises on arrival in Hong Kong.
'It all began in the tradition of 'Go east, young man' and in truth that model remained until around 1998,' said Ritchie Bent, Jardine's group head of human resources.
What happened in 1998, of course, was the Asian economic meltdown, prompting Jardines to take a long, hard look at itself.
Until then, the 'Jardine Johnnies', as they were known, were chosen principally on the basis of being reasonably well educated, personable - and predominantly British expats.
'Before it was all about people skills to fit marketing and general management roles,' Dr Bent said.