Page 25 - The Art of Leadership (preview)

Mr Lee Kuan Ye w

the spirit that generates a dynamic economy.

Chinese culture and values have determined
the aspirations of generations of their bright
students. Ever since the “Spring–Autumn”
period from about 770 to 403 BC, traditional

Chinese societies have valued first, the schol-
ar “shi”; second, the farmer “nong”; third, the
Mr Lee Kuan Yew delivering the lecture titled “An Entrepreneurial Culture for Singapore”.
worker “gong”; and fourth and last, the mer-
chant “shang”. This is the social hierarchy of system. The same values prevailed in Japan the opposite; the best graduates go into busi-
an agricultural society and has not changed and Korea, both influenced by Confucian ness or join the big corporations, not the

much in popular culture. The merchant class culture. Even in present day China, Japan and government. Recently, I read a circular from
did not enjoy high social status in most agrar- Korea, many of the best graduates from the the Kennedy School, where I was asked to
ian societies, not only because their econom- top universities go for a job in the government speak some two years ago, that a new Presi-
ic role was not obvious, but also because it was sector rather than join a private company or dent asked the Dean, “Why are your own
often considered unproductive. Traditional start a business on their own. And this has graduates not joining government? What is
China under the Confucian order was a high- been so in Singapore. The result — these your contribution?” The Dean replied, “Oh!

th
ly developed society based on a self-sufficient countries have not had a strong entrepreneur- It’s much improved since September the 11 .”
agrarian economy that is not open or willing ial tradition. With the British, most of the best My early belief that entrepreneurs were born,
to embrace changes. Such a society did not Oxford and Cambridge graduates competed not made, was modified by my experience.
spark off the industrial revolution nor give for places in the civil service until the late For years, I had been comparing the difference

rise to capitalism. 1980s when the “Big Bang”, the liberalisation between Hong Kong and Singapore business-
For generations, bright young Chinese who of London, led to huge rewards in the financial men. The lessons I drew are both encouraging
chose the path of scholarship became man- services in the City of London that drew in and sobering. With the communist liberation

darins through the imperial examinations talent. With the Americans, it has always been of the Mainland, Hong Kong received an

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