EARLY IN life, Audrey Eu Yuet-mee learned all about the rule of law. Her chief instructor was her mother, who ruled her home with a rod of iron. She would stand over her children while they did their homework, acting as investigating counsel, judge and jury, and pouncing on even the smallest mistake.
Behind her mother's insistence on best performance was the determination that her two daughters would not miss the opportunities she never had to excel academically. The two girls were expected to achieve at least as much, if not more, than their two brothers. It was not enough simply to do well; you had to excel all round, in all subjects. Coming second was not an option.
Although her memories of childhood may seem dominated by school work, with little room left for fun, Ms Eu now sees how living up to her mother's expectations shaped her success in later life. 'Everything in our life was about coming first in class,' she said. 'Life was pretty black and white.'
Not surprisingly, when it was time to leave school and think about further education, Ms Eu was not short of maternal advice. The directive was to win a place at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), preferably as a medical student. However, Ms Eu felt that science was not her field, and for once she was able to negotiate a compromise. She chose to study law instead, and she can now confidently say it was one of the best decisions she ever made.
The first year at university was something of a revelation. She thoroughly enjoyed her new-found sense of freedom and the strong collegiate spirit of what was then a very small law faculty. 'It was great fun,' she recalled. 'The biggest decision of the day was where to have lunch!'
Despite all the socialising, Ms Eu sailed through her first-year exams, getting distinctions in all her subjects. Her success persuaded her that she had found an area that truly suited her. So, drawing on the discipline gained as a child, she set about preparing for the demanding career of a barrister.