Sir Philip Haddon-Cave was proudly a colonial civil servant. He saw his calling as both honourable and worthwhile. His Hong Kong career, which began in 1962, spanned the territory's development from a tentative economic entity to major international player. During it, the capable administrator became a key figure.
Somewhat formidable to junior colleagues and with a brisk though polite manner when sitting behind the Financial Secretary's desk he occupied for a decade from 1971 to 81, Haddon-Cave was in private moments a relaxed, well-humoured man.
He read immensely, was interested in everything from arts to literature to the eternal drama of changing world power structures.
He was a generalist in a pattern developed by the British Foreign and Colonial Offices to rule an empire.
Today, his mannerism and style could seem outdated. But for his era, he was a well-tuned performer. He was also, in his polite, somewhat distant manner, a nice man.
Haddon-Cave died suddenly on Monday, aged 74, from a heart attack. He was in a taxi with his wife, Elizabeth, near their home in Oxfordshire, Britain.