This implies that an absolute rogue could become a director of a publicly-listed company -- and it has happened before.
It also implies that there is nothing to prevent a former director with a known, questionable background from be- coming a director again.
TARGET is not certain how many present directors of publicly-listed companies have questionable backgrounds, but we could make a fair guess.
Whether or not present directors of a publicly-listed companies are honourable, though, is another matter.
Many matters of natural justice are not subject to legal sanctions, but are left to the dictates of public opinion, or the
conscience of the in-
dividual.
Back in 1889, Judge L. J. Fry, when dismissing a claim against a com- pany director who had perpetrated a sharp but not illegal practice, was con- strained to say, 'If
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we were sitting in a court of honour, our decision might be different.'
T
GIGGLE OF THE WEEK
The Managing Director of a well-known Hongkong bank -- he wishes to remain nameless; TARGET, as always the soul of discretion, accedes to his request -- was faced with a problem: A customer was regularly putting large sums of money into his bank, yet the customer, like a strapless gown, had no visible means of support.
Not wishing to be placed in a difficult position by the fearless bloodhounds of the ICAC, the Managing Director called the customer in on a Friday afternoon to have a talk: "...We have no desire to cast aspersions on your character, sir, and we certainly don't want to lose your business, but, well, ah, you see the position we're in, I hope?'
The answer was brief: 'I'm a gambler.'
When asked for supporting evidence -- betting stubs from Shatin or Happy Valley racetracks, or the phone number of his broker -- the gambler demurred for a moment, then replied, without humour: 'I bet you 5 thousand dollars that you don't have your balls on Monday.'
The Managing Director, realizing that he was faced with a man who was clearly not playing with a full deck, agreed, if only to get the lunatic out of his office.
All weekend long, the Managing Director wondered what he should do when the so-called gambler didn't show up on Monday. Freeze his account? Call in the copshop? At the same time, of course, the bewildered banker took great pains to avoid sharp objects, particularly around waist-level... just in case. In fact, he cancelled his appointment for a check-up with an infamous member of Hongkong's medical profession... just in case.
On the stroke of nine o'clock Monday morning, the banker was startled to see the gambler walk calmly into the
bank office, followed closely by a Japanese man in a business suit carrying a briefcase.
trust?'
be.
The gambler, all affability now, shook hands with the banker but did not introduce the Japanese man.
'I see you're looking healthy,' the gambler started. "There were no umfortunate mishaps over the weekend, I
A sudden chill froze the banker's spine, but a surreptitious feel in his pocket told him that all was where it should
The gambler pulled out 5 thousand-dollar bills and made as if to hand them to the banker, but paused: 'You have no objection to me, ah, checking the merchandise?'
The banker, who couldn't be surprised by anything more that day, wordlessly unzipped his fly.
As the gambler felt around to make sure, the Japanese man fainted; as he hit the floor, the gambler commented: 'I just bet him a million dollars I could come in here and grab the Managing Director's balls.'
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