Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong since 1986, Professor Wang Gungwu was born 9 October 1930 in Indonesia. He studied in Nanking and Singapore, eventually taking his Ph.D. at the University of London. He writes and lectures on the history of the Southeast Asian Chinese. He and his wife, Margaret, have three children -- one son and two daughters. In his spare time, he likes listening to music, reading and walking.
Q: If you were told that you would die tomorrow, what would you do today?
A: I would take my wife to Macau and fulfil the promise I made to her seven years ago.
Q: If you were God, what part of the human body would you modify?
A: My body, especially my arms, so that I can touch my toes more easily.
Q: What is your most successful achievement in life?
A: To stop smoking after 30 years without the slightest difficulty.
Q: In a word, how would you describe yourself?
A: Tolerant.
Q: Whom would you most like to spend the evening with?
A: My wife of 38 years.
Q: What is the single most important thing remaining for you to accomplish in life?
A: To finish the book I started to write 10 years ago.
Q: What quality in other people do you admire the most?
A: Common sense, because it is so rare.
Q: What advice do you have for young people today who want to succeed in life?
A: Make every minute count.
Q: How would you describe Hong Kong's youth today?
A: Passive.
Q: Whom did you most admire when you were a child?
A: The inventive elder brother of my closest friend.