Where did you go to school? I studied at St Louis School, a Catholic secondary school in Western. Sai Yin Pun was not the most prestigious locality. I met genuine people, who were not just materialistic. The religion reinforced people's belief in righteousness; this grounded me and made me want to work harder.
What were the other lessons of your early life? Education at school should complement education at home. Parents cannot delegate education to schools, they have to show their own values by living what they tell their children. My father was an entrepreneur; he died when I was only 11. My mother decided to close all his businesses except the Lee Heng Diamond Group. It made me realise that things can disappear overnight and you have to pick up the pieces and move on.
How did you get into the diamond industry? I was born into the business. I was lucky in that I did not have a choice but I was also committed. When I was 11, I learnt to count, weigh and sort diamonds after school. They fascinated me.
Where did you go to university? I went to McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. While there, I stayed in the diamond business. I would travel down to New York every six weeks to look for diamonds to buy. At St Louis all the boys did sciences; there was no choice. When I went to Ontario, I studied business administration and economics.
What are the key qualities for success in business? I think, for most industries, the most important quality is not a high IQ, but a sense of responsibility and work ethic.
And for the jewellery industry? Firstly, the most important thing is to guard your integrity with your life. Secondly, work hard. Thirdly, be curious; be ready to question things and to answer these questions. Have your dreams and goals and then have perseverance and toughness. Aim for perfection, as in the search for perfection, you'll achieve excellence.
