“I started working on the Tai Po Campus in September 1997, before any HKIEd staff actually moved in. The transportation system at that time was not yet fully established, so I used to spend a great deal of time getting here.” says Simon, who was the first security guard to work on the Tai Po Campus. With the area that he was responsible for still partly a construction site, his main duties were to guard the campus and to keep an eye on the progress of outsourced construction work. Simon had to work doubly hard in those days, as he was often required to escort colleagues, who left the office very late at night, to the car park or off campus to get taxis. Since the campus was both remote and vast, many staff were worried that there might be illegal immigrants around. Fortunately, none have been discovered over the past ten years. “The campus is very safe,” Simon said. “In all my time here, I have only seen wild boars.”

Simon, the “Gate-keeping General”, has been living on campus since the hostels were built and is a close neighbour to many of our student residents.