Extract from the BKR worldwide bulletin - Les Nutter reviews his trip to the BKR International annual worldwide conference in Hong Kong.
Saturday...
Saturday evening: having left one jumbo, here I was in another - the Jumbo floating restaurant, capable of serving 2500 people at one sitting!
The meal was preceded by a traditional lion dance; an athletic display brought to a symbolic end by our very own BKR pussycat, Geoffrey Lewis.
I had the good fortune to be guided through the courses and local customs by the delightful Priscilla Chan. She, sadly, had the misfortune to be surrounded by a group of Europeans, with free flowing wine and a revolving table, not the best combination!
From the Jumbo by ferry and coach to another symbolic BKR destination, the hospitality suite. Discussions about staff motivation and succession planning made way for stories about trips the previous week and whether the Boston Red Sox could go 3 up in the World Series. Off to bed for Tai Chi the following morning at 7.45am.
Sunday...
Sunday morning: woke up at around 8.30am! Opened the curtains to the magnificent panoramic view of Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbour. We were taken on a guided tour of the city, concluding with a trip by funicular railway up the mountain known as The Peak for a wonderful dinner at Café Deco. The breathtaking view of the city and the image of it lighting up is one that will remain with me.
Monday...
Monday began two days of formal business and seminars with, amongst other things, an insight into the Asian economy by Dr Fong, a tax report from Scottish Australian, Peter MacLean, and a participative leadership lecture by Irish Canadian, Patrick McKenna. He spoke of the dynamos, the cruisers and the losers, all of whom were very much on display on the dance floor later that evening at the Gala Dinner. Some were initiated to The Secret Cigar Society, by invitation only, from our retired chairman, Sheldon Webster. Thanks, Ron, for the mild one.
“The Awakening Giant” was the title for the conference. “Awakening the dead” was more like it on Tuesday morning, but awakened we were, with several presentations including a particularly lively and entertaining shoot from the hip talk from local business columnist, Jake van der Kamp.
Precisely twenty years after the Iron lady, Mrs Thatcher, signed over Hong Kong to China, our two very own iron ladies, Maureen and Denise, with our excellent hosts, BKR Lew & Barr, conjured up an experience to make this sad Englishman very happy. Thank you.
Date:1 November 2004
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