Among Peter’s numerous virtues was his integrity, modesty, and unfailing loyalty to the Faculty of which he served as Dean with great distinction. He possessed exceptionally clear ideas about the direction and purpose of both departments, and, as Head of the Department of Law throughout his Deanship, I was cajoled into living up to his exacting standards and expectations. I won’t say he bullied me, but he twisted my arm to engage in several activities or projects that I would not otherwise have undertaken!
Two stand out. First, he insisted that I should regularly attend colleagues’ lectures to monitor their teaching skills, or lack of it. I was required, he instructed me, to write detailed reports to be discussed with them. The objective was, of course, to improve the quality of instruction in the interests of our students. With a department of more than forty teachers, it was a labour-intensive operation, but he believed strongly in its importance. And he was correct. Peter was himself a superb teacher: always well prepared, his course materials lucid, coherent, and reliable. Moreover, he was accessible to students and deeply sympathetic to their concerns, academic and personal.
Secondly, he suggested (if that’s the right word) that I organise off-campus staff discussions whose agenda included matters related to the curriculum, administration, and other issues central to the ‘mission’ of the department. We hired a coach and set off to the Kadoorie Centre in the wilds of Shek Kong where in this informal, relaxed setting we seemed to accomplish a great deal more than we might have done back at HKU — which was the whole point.
There were a number of other innovations he introduced to the Faculty which, I understand, have continued to this day.
Peter had numerous interests, including travel (he visited every state in the USA), Rugby Union, and running. I shall remember him as a loyal friend, a fine leader, a dedicated teacher, and a man of absolute probity and kindness. He will be greatly missed.