One the British Council's most colourful directors bade a fond farewell to its Hong Kong office this week with a stylish celebration of the 'intercultural dialogue' that is its watchword.
Ruth Gee, who is leaving to become the cultural organisation's regional director for India and Sri Lanka, held a Living Books event on Wednesday, at which prominent Hong Kongers shared their experiences as if they were open books - and so did she.
Compered by Jonathan Douglas, host of RTHK's Morning Call and Artbeat, it featured Christine Loh Kung-wai, chief executive officer of think-tank Civic Exchange, and Commercial Radio chat show host Chip Tsao, who shared amusing episodes from their time at boarding schools and universities in the UK. Ms Loh recalled her shock at being told on arriving at her boarding school in Bedford that she could not have a bath every day and should control the amount of water used.
'I couldn't work out why we shouldn't have a bath every day,' she said. 'The bath tubs were very long and I was told that I could only have water covering my knees. I thought: 'My God, these people think they are still fighting the war'.'
For her part, Ms Gee's experiences of Hong Kong were all positive. 'When I arrived in 2003, it was as if I had been handed a special gift - something very precious,' she said. 'These have been very, very happy days. Happy because the British Council is a special organisation and Hong Kong is a special place. I've actually just allowed myself to have quite a lot of fun in the process of doing my work.'
The highlights of her six-year tenure had included the 60th anniversary celebrations of the British Council's Hong Kong office and Hong Kong's participation in the Equestrian Olympics last year, while successful projects included the Young Advocates Programme in which disabled and able-bodied youngsters teamed up for sporting events.
