TURNING POINTS

Australia, Canada and Hong Kong

I recently vacated my office in the Faculty of Law at The University of Hong Kong after spending almost 20 years based at HKU. I look forward to maintaining HKU links through friends, colleagues, former students and ongoing research.

This significant change also set me thinking about those turning points in life one encounters. What follows are some reflections on several of these.

Australia

Well over 50 years ago, early in my working life in Melbourne, I joined CSIRO, Australia’s then primary scientific research organization.

I had zero qualifications to join as any sort of a scientist. I began work at CSIRO as a lower grade, clerical assistant. But I did eventually get to work, as part of the administrative support staff, within the Division of Forest Products (DFP), at that time one of CSIRO’s major research institutes, located in South Melbourne - on the site where Melbourne’s Crown Casino now stands.

John Andrew Pattison - always known as Jack Pattison - was the Divisional Administrative Officer (DAO). Our first meeting was brief and to the point, as he explained my junior duties. But it was also engaging. I did not understand, then, that this was a turning point moment. But I did sense, after that short discussion, that he was a different sort of workplace boss.

DFP turned out to be a marvellous place to work. It was diverse, lively and inspiring. When DFP merged with the Division of Building Research, located in South-East Melbourne, this was even more evident.

Jack became the new DAO of this enlarged scientific division. Within a year or so, I began to think that I may never find another boss to equal Jack Pattison. Five decades later, that judgment still stands.

Jack Pattison (right) and Richard Cullen in Melbourne in 2014

Jack Pattison became the most important workplace mentor in my life and, over time, an exceptionally good friend. In me, he saw evidence of some intelligence - and laziness. His strong encouragement to begin part-time tertiary studies was instrumental in getting me back to school at the Caulfield Institute of Technology. Without his firm persuasive input, I would never have begun these studies.

I never completed that course, but I later I applied to sit a mature age entry exam run by the Faculty of Law at Melbourne University. I was successful and, after wondering what I had got myself into, I discovered that I enjoyed working hard while studying law.

After I completed my LLB in 1982, I entered legal practice prior to beginning post-graduate studies in Canada followed by an academic career in Australia and Hong Kong (see further below)

Throughout this period, I maintained continuous contact with Jack Pattison. I regularly found myself reflecting, moreover, on how this long-term mentoring friendship underpinned my career path from clerical assistant to Professor of Law.

Whenever I returned to visit Melbourne from Hong Kong we would meet, often with Yvonne, Jack’s wife of over 60 years. I remember these meetings vividly. His warmth, interest, intellect and generosity formed an unequalled combination.

Jack Pattison died in 2023, aged 95. I am most fortunate to have known him for over 50 years. He changed my life conspicuously and positively. Unsurprisingly, I loved him deeply.

Canada

After I finished my LLB and began working as a junior solicitor, I recognised a developing interest in advanced legal studies. I began applying for post-graduate courses overseas.

As some positive responses began to arrive, I found myself wondering if this offshore-adventuring was such a good idea after all. Not for the first time, I experienced apprehension about making a major change in my life.

One very good offer came from Osgoode Hall Law School based in Toronto in Canada. I wrote back saying that I was reviewing my offshore study plans.

Professor Harry Glasbeek, was the associate dean in charge of post-graduate studies at Osgoode, at that time. Providentially, he took a special interest in my case, after reading that response.

One Saturday morning in 1984, the phone rang where I lived in Melbourne, and Harry Glasbeek introduced himself. I had never before received an international phone call like this.

Harry patiently and persuasively explained that Osgoode would be pleased to have me as a post-graduate student in law and that it was fine to delay my arrival by a few months, if needs be. He added that my supervisor would be Professor Peter Hogg, the most respected Constitutional Law academic in Canada, at that time.

After flying from Melbourne, I travelled by mid-winter sleeper train from Vancouver to Toronto in late 1984. Unforgettable.

Peter Hogg proved to be a marvellous supervisor.

Following the completion of my PhD, I returned to take up an academic position in the Faculty of Law at Monash University in Melbourne.

I still particularly remember that remarkable phone call from over 40 years ago - and the gratifying impact it had on my career development. Harry Glasbeek subsequently became a close friend and generous mentor. He remains so today.

Hong Kong

In late 1991, I accepted a position in the new Law School at the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong - now the City University of Hong Kong.

Within a month I felt at home. Working at CityU and living in Hong Kong proved to be exhilarating from the outset.

Later I returned to Monash University as the Professor and Head of the law department in the Monash Business School.

In 2006, Professor Johannes Chan, Dean of the Faculty of Law at HKU, offered me an appointment as a Visiting Professor. I took early retirement from the Monash Business School and returned to Hong Kong.

I have enjoyed virtually all the work I have undertaken since I left school. The longest continuously located, working period I have spent over that time is the last 20 years with HKU. It is the best job I have ever had.

Conclusion

As I look back, I can see how fortunate I have been with the many remarkable friends I have made, the teachers I have had and the outstanding family support I have enjoyed. I can also see how certain people have manifestly shaped my life. These include my mother and father, Jack Pattison, Harry Glasbeek and my wife.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, has proved to be a conspicuously good place to establish the best sort of enduring friendships.