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Ben Kwok

solomon systech chairman lets his loyal subordinate do the talking

Lai See salutes Solomon Systech's managing director Humphrey Leung (pictured), winner of this week's Human Shield Award for selfless dedication to protecting his boss' back.

The company, once a fund managers' darling, yesterday announced a 50 per cent interim profit plunge but chairman Barry Lin Hsin-yin was nowhere to be seen.

Ever the loyal subordinate, the MD scrambled to draw fire.

There was no way, he said, that Mr Lin, who lives in Taiwan, would ever try to duck the media.

Rather, the chairman felt that his presence wasn't really required since on previous occasions the hack pack had put most of their questions to Mr Leung.

How nice of Mr Lin to let his  No2 have this moment in the sun.

wider smiles, better service

The 13,000 employees of Bank of China (Hong Kong) are finally going to enjoy the same working conditions as their comrades in the mainland.

BOCHK's first five-day work week begins on September 4.

'Only with an energetic workforce that is healthy in body and mind can we deliver efficient service to our customers,' said chief executive He Guangbei.

We are looking forward  to more smiles from tellers and customer service representatives this autumn.

more work for hongkong bank chief

Still on the subject of the five-day week, Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp chairman Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen says it doesn't apply to him - or very rarely at least.

'I always work seven days a week with my BlackBerry - except when I'm in Korea and Japan,' he told a reporter.

Bad news, Mr Cheng, the new model BlackBerry is about to launch is compatible with the CDMA systems   in North Asia.

healthy, wealthy and wise

How do you ease the pressure of work?

Sun Hung Kai Properties' vice-chairman Raymond Kwok Ping-luen (below) suggests that reading history, outdoor activities and travel are good ways to relieve the stress of long hours.

'I encourage my staff to travel three or four times a year, not necessarily on long trips,' said Mr Kwok, whose family and company donated HK$30 million to the Chinese University to promote mental health in Hong Kong.

Nice to have such an understanding boss.

cathay to miss two top negotiators

Cathay Pacific Airways will be entering complex air service agreement talks with India and the United States  this year minus two of its top negotiators.

The latest to depart is Susan Luke Lyra, a deputy to general manager Ian Callender, who resigned in June to go to work for Rolls-Royce. No word yet on Ms Luke's destination.

Mr Callendar is being succeeded by Angus Barclay who ran Cathay's catering arm until now.

Although it's the government's Economic Development and Labour Bureau that struts the stage during bilateral air talks, Cathay Pacific has always been the prompter in the wings.



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Air China

Lai See