ON HIS PREDECESSOR PROF SHIH CHOON FONG

'When I was Provost, I applied what I called the 'Shih principle'. It states that an A, C, C is better than a B, B, B. The idea is that it is better to be an 'A' in something, than to be above average all round. I think this has helped our faculty focus on the area in which they can best contribute and excel.'

ON MAKING BOLD STROKES

'Amateur Chinese landscape painters like myself know that...there is a great temptation to play it safe, to make incremental, timid strokes for fear of spoiling the picture. Such an approach usually fails. You often end up with a piece of art which is commonplace, which has fallen short of what it could have become. The test for the painter, therefore, is to continue to be bold in developing the painting, while placing each new stroke firmly and strategically.'

HOW TO BUILD A GREAT UNIVERSITY

'For me the answer is simple. It's all about people - being single-minded about developing, retaining and recruiting top quality people, and creating a culture that brings out the best in them.'