FADE IN.
INT. STUDY - NIGHT
Peter is working behind a computer.
PETER (V.O.)
Okay, I've got my first
draft of the decision as
a Panelist.
Peter then checks a mail.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I'm being invited to be
reappointed as a Panelist,
but I need to submit,
among other things, two
references! Well, that's
a difficult task, as I
need to ask somebody
else to do them for
me.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I wrote lots of references
for others. But I rarely
asked others to write
one for me, way back
when. And now, at
my age?
Pondering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
When was the last time
I asked somebody to
write a reference for me?
Remembering.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, that was in 2003.
I was applying to follow
a Senior Executive
Fellows program at
Harvard Kennedy
School. And they wanted
a reference.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That was part of
Government's leadership
training program. So I
asked Government's
Director of Training
Services to write the
reference for me. I
went to Harvard alright.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd) And the real difficult
task was way back in
1981 when I applied
to read LLB at HKU.
The application form
has a section on
reference. It was near
impossible.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I completed my matriculation
in 1973 and left school.
I couldn't ask who taught
me then to write a
reference for me. It
couldn't be good. As I
was studying philosophy
by myself, the appropriate
person to write my
reference was myself.
Smiling.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
I did exactly that!
None of the admission
interviewers queried
on that. I read law
at HKU and graduated
alright.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But this invitation
requires two references,
although I've been
delivering decisions as
a Panelist regularly.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I believe the institution
wants to standardize
the Panelist appointment
system...
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
What I've achieved - like
building Hong Kong's
IP system, settling
disputes at WTO are in
the public domain.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, I won't bother others.
My family members are
well qualified to do that.
Let me draft something
for them to consider
and sign.
Peter opens a new page on the computer screen and begins typing.
Coming to the end of one draft, Peter slowly types after the name the letters of: LLB (Beijing), LLB, LLM (Lond), PCLL (HK).
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
It was difficult for her
to get the two LLBs.
The LLM and the
PCLL were relatively
easy; but there're
other sacrifice.
Coming to the end of another draft, Peter again slowly types after the name the letters of: LLB (Lond), PCLL, LLM (HK).
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
His LSE LLB was
relatively expensive. I
declined for him offers
from HKCU and HKU.
Again, the PCLL and
the LLM were easy.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)
And what we've in
common is that we
all got our PCLL from
HKU. And I take great
pride in our academic
attainment.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Working behind the computer, Peter checks an incoming mail.
PETER (V.O.)
My Panel decision has
been published. Let
me now complete the
formality to be reappointed
as a Panelist. The
difficult task is made easy
with years of intellectual
investment of my family
members!
Peter types again.
FADE OUT.
The End