A designer of Chinese painting for over 40 years, the founder of KL&K Creative Strategics Kan Tai-keung said at Shue Yan that Hong Kong can influence China with its core values when merging with the mainland.
Kan’s business is now mainly in mainland. He said sincerity is very important for businessman and he never gave one cent to bribe someone in order to get jobs although “giving money” is a adapted custom in mainland.
Despite China’s quick development after opening-up and reform in 1979, he believed that Hong Kong is still influential towards the mainland. He said Hong Kong has five core values which are superior and could somehow affect China – open and free environment, equal opportunities, rule of law, protection of copyright and probity.
Kan said he is a new immigrant as he came to Hong Kong in 1957 when he was 15 years old. Hong Kong has become his second homeland and he had deep affection for this place.
When Queen's Pier and Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier were going to be tore down in 2006, he felt that “this city’s culture may die”. He said the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui was a part of his memory as he used to go to work every day by ferry and the “ding ding” sound from Clock Tower accompanied him many years.
As an art professor of several universities in the mainland, Kan said he is trying to make “silent revolution” through talks and lessons, influencing mainland people’s mind.