Donald Tsang: From Salesman To Chief Executive

Donald Tsang talked about the most memorable event in Hongkong in the past 10 years: did you feel sad in the past 10 years?

Donald Tsang: in the past 10 years, what I feel most distressed is the SARS campaign that killed 299 people in Hong Kong.

The people of Hongkong will agree that SARS is our greatest test and trauma. It is also our most proud memory. It can be of great concern for all the people at this difficult time. The heroes behind the scenes are proud of themselves. The professionalism and quality of Hongkong people are proud of us.

Reporter: happy moments, too?

Donald Tsang: I am actually a very simple person.

What makes me happy is always simple things.

Sometimes a taxi driver rolls down a glass window to greet me. Tourists can call my name and smile to support me. They can make me feel sweet from my heart to my toes.

(laughter) Donald Tsang, the chief executive of the Hongkong Special Administrative Region, arrived at nine a.m. on April 9, 2007. Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met with the chief executive Donald Tsang of the Hongkong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Zhongnanhai, and presented the appointment form. Donald Tsang was appointed the third chief executive of the People's Republic of China Special Administrative Region of Hongkong, and was inaugurated in July 1, 2007.

The latest public opinion poll in June 7th showed that the Hongkong citizen's rating of Donald Tsang's appointment as chief executive was 77.6 points, and the public image of Donald Tsang was much less than that of former chief executive Chen Fangansheng. In terms of intelligence, he was not as good as former Secretary of the Treasury, Chen Zuze, and political skill was less than that of former financial secretary, Liang Jinsong, Donald Tsang.

However, it seems that Donald Tsang, who seems to be harmless, has been on the top of the Hongkong political arena.

Some people say that Donald Tsang is lucky. In 2001, Mrs Chan resigned. He took over the post of Chief Secretary for administration. Then Dong Jianhua resigned as the acting chief executive.

However, according to public opinion polls, more than 60% of the people believe that he is the most suitable candidate for the chief executive. Such a high rate of support is rare in a democratic Hongkong society.

I am afraid this is not the word "lucky" can be taken by three words.

What makes Donald Tsang score again and again?

Although the hero does not ask the way out, he has to answer the question from his "salesman origin".

As a salesman, the new face of "Hongkong spirit" is a deep and good impression on customers.

In this respect, Donald Tsang is one of the most successful Hongkong senior officials.

Of course, it is not because he looks handsome, but because no matter what kind of public occasions, he always wears a bowtie, not a tie, so he has a reputation as "pot once".

Hongkong media commented that such a dress made Donald Tsang very stylish, British aristocratic temperament, with a sense of the times, is an open-minded expression.

Deng Dazhi, a famous fashion designer in Hongkong, also commented that Donald Tsang's bow tie was eye-catching instead of dazzling, with humorous cartoon designs, and even Italy's psychedelic color pattern, which appeared in the 60s of last century, "breaking the dreary and daring of senior officials".

In fact, in the early years, Donald Tsang was also wearing a tie, but he always suffered from bad luck.

Once, a British official found that his tie was a bit awkward. He suggested that he try a bow tie.

It is much easier to tie a tie than to wear a tie. Donald Tsang has tasted it and never left it with his bow tie.

Just like big head leather shoes for Chaplin, pipe for Holmes, bow tie became the image code of Donald Tsang, and even his sign on the chief executive's election had a striking bow tie pattern.

It is said that there are more than 100 bow ties in his family, which occupy 3 shelves in the wardrobe.

If Donald Tsang says that there are still some "inadvertently inserting willows and willows" in his "styling design", then he repeatedly emphasizes his "bottom up and hard work" and finally achieves success in his campaign for the chief executive, which is obviously a deliberate "image promotion".

He said, "I am from a common family in Hongkong. Like most Hongkong children, I was once an ordinary student in Hongkong, a salesman who ran for life, and later became a servant of the public.

I firmly believe that my conscience and principles have gone through 40 years of ups and downs in Hongkong.

The statement of this kind of expression has enabled countless Hong Kong people to see their own shadow, and also to have a vision of the future, thus greatly drawing the distance between him and the general public, and showing more affinity with many of his family members.

At the same time, his struggle history embodies the essence of the "Hongkong spirit". Therefore, Donald Tsang, who is well versed in marketing skills, is the best selling point of his image.

In addition to the image, the excellent salesmen should have a brilliant way of doing things, and in Donald Tsang, they can be regarded as excellent working abilities.

In his 38 years of civil service career, he started from the grass roots and worked in several departments. He knows the whole of the Hongkong society and the administrative operation within the government.

His colleagues praised him for his ingenuity and flexibility.

Donald Tsang's courage and courage are the best examples of the August 1998 battle with the international financial predators.

In August 14th of that year, under the manipulation of international speculators, the Hongkong stock market plummeted to 6500 points, the lowest in 5 years.

The Hongkong government never intervened in the stock market. At half past nine a.m. this morning, Liang Dingbang, chairman of the Hongkong Securities Regulatory Commission, suddenly received the notice of the then financial secretary, Donald Tsang, and ordered the government to intervene directly in the market against the speculators.

In the next half month, the Hongkong stock market was surging and surging, and speculators threw themselves away.

As a result, the "big crocodile" ran away and the Hong Kong government won.

In August 28th, the Hang Seng Index closed at 7829 points, with a turnover of HK $79 billion.

It is said that in those days there was a statue of a samurai killing crocodiles on Donald Tsang's desk. He called the crocodile "Soros".

The government intervention in the market is a great move. Donald Tsang himself is also a faithful believer in the policy of "active non intervention".

After successfully retreating the speculators, he explained to the public the necessity of Hongkong's entry into the market: "speculators take not only money but also the stability of the financial system and the confidence of 7 million people."

A speech won the cheers of the people of Hong Kong, and its support rate continued to rise, reaching 65.1%, setting a new high since the return of Hongkong.

Later, he used the opportunity to attend the annual meetings of the world bank and the International Monetary Fund. With his solid financial literacy and economic literacy, he elaborated on the reasons for the intervention of the Hong Kong government into the market and won the recognition and support of the international community.

Many people still have a lingering fear of this incident.

I dare not imagine that if the Hongkong government kept the rules at that time, could today's state of the financial centre retain its position?

Donald Tsang later admitted in public that he was under great pressure and had cried two or three times on that day because he was worried that he would lose money from Hongkong people if he was careless.

It is also important for us to come from the masses and to the masses as salesmen.

It is not the case for the chief executive. To win happiness for the 7 million Hong Kong people, we must first win the trust of the people of Hong Kong, so that they are willing to entrust their clothes, food and shelter to you.

Donald Tsang, a native of Hongkong, once swore, "I drink Hongkong water, Hongkong blood, and never do sorry for the Hongkong people".

Donald Tsang said he had a strong "Hongkong complex".

In 1980s, he was sent to the Harvard University in the United States to take a master's degree in public administration.

One morning, Donald Tsang suddenly woke up and said to his wife, Bao Xiaowei, miss Hongkong wonton noodles, even if it is 100 dollars a bowl is willing to buy.

After years of talking about this matter and the mood at that time, "I find that I remember most about Hongkong, Hongkong's smell, people, and even pollution. I remember it very much."

Although he is in a high position, Donald Tsang knows very well the principle of "coming from the masses to the masses."

In order to prepare for the election of the chief executive, he fell directly to the public, listened carefully and responded.

He patronized several shop owners who had a good impression on him, saying that he was not as serious as he was on television.

Donald Tsang, who runs a fruit shop opposite the old residence of Li Bo, has known Donald Tsang for more than 40 years. He praised "once and for all". When driving past a fruit shop, he would roll down the window glass and greet himself.

Donald Tsang is very confident in whether he can win the trust of the people. Because of his actions in the past thirty years, the citizens are obvious to all.

He vowed that he would always be loyal and serve the Hongkong with the people's heart in mind.

In this way, the "hero outlet" of salesmen has laid a solid foundation for Donald Tsang to become the chief executive of the Special Administrative Region.

It can be seen that work is not equal to the best, but the essence is to serve the people.

From the salesman to the chief executive, Donald Tsang promoted the salesmanship thoroughly, which is truly a "super salesman".

Now, as chief executive Donald Tsang, what he wants to do is to continue to develop his "sales talent", understand the needs of customers, and focus on customers.

What's different is that his current service target has expanded to 7 million Hongkong people.