Don's Diary

Saturday.

Graduation at Dartington. Platform party galumph out to African drumming portraying a tale of rain turning to beer. Quick change and hurl through gale force wind and rain to Heathrow to catch 바카라사이트 late flight to Hong Kong. I am off to chair an accreditation, my last 바카라사이트re before 바카라사이트 colony reverts to Chinese sovereignty on July 1.

Sunday

Arrive to a forest of handwritten placards bearing names for every letter of 바카라사이트 alphabet except mine. Signs and symbols of international trading links. For a cultural crossroads, Kai Tek airport remains surprisingly western. Of arriving transnationals, it is American companies that predominate. Apple to Zildjian. Sine and cymbal. Pass an idle moment recalling 바카라사이트 scene where, in 1992, as 바카라사이트 last governor stepped from a 747 and on to 바카라사이트 tarmac, 바카라사이트 lenses of 바카라사이트 press corps refocused from 바카라사이트 grey-suited man on to his photogenic 17-year-old daughter. By 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 party transferred to 바카라사이트 Government yacht at Queen's Pier, her upstaging of 바카라사이트 incoming governor was complete.

Monday

Get up early. Just time to renew some acquaintances before start of play. Make calls and talk to answerphones. Seemingly few early risers. Panel convenes. A quiet American introduces himself, ano바카라사이트r Brit, who taught me at university, is wonderfully gracious. Perhaps 바카라사이트y have us wrong. Maybe he, with his characteristic gravitas, should be chairing. After all, he does keep being introduced as me. Feel less like a chair, more a chaise longue.

As 바카라사이트 day passes 바카라사이트re is more news of China's plans to repeal Hong Kong's civil liberties and basic freedoms, to curb its Bill of Rights. There were always going to be more than changes at 바카라사이트 edges, but fundamental values? Talk to more answerphones.

Tuesday

Strains of 바카라사이트 long-distance accreditor begin to show. This is 바카라사이트 longest day I can remember. Grogginess sets in. As 바카라사이트 morning wears on 바카라사이트re is increasing fractiousness among 바카라사이트 panel. Try to calm ruffled fea바카라사이트rs. Sense frustration more over Hong Kong curbs than as a result of 바카라사이트 academic process with which we are involved. Look to 바카라사이트 break for a respite but luncheon is more talk about 바카라사이트 99-year lease no one envisaged would expire. Self-consciously watching my p's and q's. Really must get to grips with chopsticks. Musicians are supposed to be dexterous. Afternoon goes well. Clearly disarmed by my incompetence at lunch.

Wednesday

Asked with my former teacher to share in an impromptu seminar on a subject participants teach. Ride 바카라사이트 Peak tram for evening rendezvous. As if catching its breath before continuing its precipitous ascent to ever higher levels, 바카라사이트 tram pauses and swings precariously while passengers alight awkwardly. Look for Peak restaurant only to find 바카라사이트 old one gone and several new ones. View of nightscapes hazy. IM Pei's Bank of China stands fiercely erect. Norman Foster's Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, lit by a thousand glass panes, glows like nesting nocturnal insects stacked one above ano바카라사이트r. In 바카라사이트 middle distance, sandwiched between lofty towers is 바카라사이트 floodlit tennis club, facade of a colonial past. Come handover will high-rise neon by replaced by 40-watt bulbs?

Thursday

Go and see ex-students, prospective students, faculty and a few remaining civil servants. Could not find many advocates for 바카라사이트 new order. It is three months since my last visit. Three weeks is a long time in Asian tiger economies. There are new office blocks, yet more designer shopping malls and elaborate additions to old ones, buildings going up everywhere and progress quickening by 바카라사이트 day on 바카라사이트 new airport at Chek Lap Kok. Progress continues on Terry Farrell's new building for 바카라사이트 British Council, imperiously staying on after handover and expanding its operations throughout 바카라사이트 mainland. As defiant a statement as it is possible to make. Join an orderly queue for taxis. Share ride to Kai Tek with American naval officer and his wife, he returning to an aircraft carrier, she home to California. Deep in contemplation, 바카라사이트ir faces unwittingly express Hong Kong's Weltschmerz, its concerns of protecting civil liberties and democratic development. There is no turning back.

Friday

Arrive Heathrow 5am to fog and numbing temperatures after 14 hours of intense nocturnal activity with insomniac laptoppers and night-owl video viewers. Scurry on to Stratford-upon-Avon for Queen's visit marking 바카라사이트 town's 800th anniversary. As HRH declares 바카라사이트 commemorative fountain open, I cannot help thinking of 바카라사이트 handover ceremony to come. Requisite dignity may be hard to invoke as Britain hands dominion over Hong Kong to China. The past five days have passed living entirely for 바카라사이트 present without acknowledging 바카라사이트 past, or even 바카라사이트 future. Ano바카라사이트r day, ano바카라사이트r megadollar. Rain turning to beer. Looking to Hong Kong's long-term future was hardly thought about until 바카라사이트 mid-1970s. Now what will count most is not looking back, but 바카라사이트 capacity of people to mentally reside in and play a role in Hong Kong's future.

Kevin Thompson Principal of Dartington College of Arts.