It's tough being a property agent. Not too long ago, agents only needed to be lean, mean and know how to apply pressure on unsuspecting clients. Now they have to be able to do all that with a professional licence, and to show flair for creative writing and classical Chinese calligraphy. Really, I'm not joking. As part of continuing professional education, the Estate Agents Authority is organising writing and calligraphy contests. This is on top of the minimum 10 hours of continuous professional study agents are expected to undertake each year.

The topics for the essay contest include: the ups and downs in the life of an estate agent, how agents can boost their professional image, how continuous learning can promote excellence in agency business, and how agents can best contribute to the real estate industry. They are similar to the essay topics my son in Primary One has to write about, such as: how to be a good student; how learning is fun; and how students can contribute to society.

In the calligraphy competition, contestants can choose classical or modern styles in which to write eight Chinese characters that mean 'professional development is a sign you respect and love your profession'.