Today, anyone who works hard in the Republic of China has an opportunity to rise from the ranks. Finance Minister Hsu Li-teh provides a good example.

When Hsu joined the government after his graduation, he served as a file clerk. His ability won him one promotion after another, until he achieved his present post. "Whether I am gifted or not, I don't know. But I have always worked hard since I was a child."

In many ways, the minister is not much out of the ordinary. He failed his first attempt at the college entrance examination.

When he finally entered college, however, Hsu began to realize the importance of education. He liked to concentrate his energy on solving one problem at a time. "I was not a book worm. I joined a number of societies and played in the college basketball team. I am still a good ping pong player," he said.

He believes exercises and sports promote mental as well as physical health and agility.

When Hsu was promoted to the post of section chief of the personnel office of the Taiwan Provincial Government, he married his classmate, the former Liu Chin-sheng. At that time, he began to feel his lack of education, and entered the institute of political science at the National Chengchi University. On graduation, he joined the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and was sent to study public administration in the United States.

At that time, Mrs. Hsu was working with the Directorate General of Telecommunications, and could support the family independently.

On his return from the U.S., Hsu, still aged under 30, was appointed a senior personnel officer with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and held a concurrent post as executive secretary of the manpower group of the Council for Economic Planning and Development. Before long, be became head of the personnel department.

After mastering personnel administration in this post, Hsu wanted to resign and return to teaching. But his superiors in the ministry would not let him quit, and recommended that he serve as chief of the fifth section of the Executive Yuan in charge of economic affairs.

In his four years of service, Hsu gained an overall understanding of the country's economic development. "I spent considerable time studying and learning from others in an effort to become fully competent as quickly as possible. I never relaxed in my efforts to adapt to the new environment," he noted.

After he grasped economic problems, the young government employee was transferred to another challenging post as vice minister of finance.

"Although people often lump finance and economics together, they are actually quite different. Tax and fiscal affairs call for great expertise. As a vice minister, I had to evaluate many official papers. If I could not master finance, how could I annotate these papers?" He started thorough studies of financial matters, and had to wear reading glasses for the first time.

"All my life, I have taken up one challenge after another, but I feel I have mastered my work completely," he said.

After serving two years as vice finance minister, Hsu was transferred to the post of financial commissioner of the Taiwan Provincial Government to preside over financial administration. In this post, he gained valuable experience.

During the three years and five months, Hsu did outstanding work in reforming the tax administration. He carried out his ideals to simplify tax procedures for the benefit of taxpayers, to computerize the taxation system, to streamline procedures and to enhance a sense of responsibility and honesty among tax personnel.

Granted an Eisenhower fellowship, Hsu, accompanied by his wife, spent three months studying U.S. tax and fiscal methods.

When the Executive Yuan was reorganized last year, Hsu was promoted to the post of Finance Minister in the Central Government. This was, indeed, a surprising move. "I began to feel the stress and strain of the new challenge, although I am an easy-going man. Because the country is suffering under the heavy impact of global recession, I felt as if I were assigned to solve a crisis. In the initial period, I woke up at four or five in the morning no matter how late I went to bed the previous night. My thoughts were racing immediately after I opened my eyes, and many problems came into my mind," he recalled.

Despite this heavy psychological burden, the new minister soon assumed a leadership role. People discussed whether this was because of his talent, his wide-ranging experience or his industry.

"This represents the full blooming of my potential. Everyone has his potential, and he can fulfil it only when he is forced to. As the burden of national financial affairs has fallen on my shoulders, what else can I do? I must exert myself to improve things. I have worked hard, because I believe hard work can make up for the shortcoming in my ability."

The minister often tells his colleagues that nobody is born superior to others. Because of his assignments, he has more opportunity to understand a wide range of business activities. "I stand higher and I can see farther," he explained. "In making any decision, I have to weigh the whole situation, and I have always been impartial," he said.

"To a departmental chief, the greatest challenge is the problem of management, which is more formidable than technical problems. The personnel problem is at the center of management. If this obstacle can be overcome, all other problems will be solved," the minister said, drawing on his experience as a teacher of human relations.

Minister Hsu is popular with his colleagues. People attribute his success to his skill in human relations and personnel management.

"Actually, my philosophy in dealing with others is very simple: I try to stand in their shoes. As a department chief, I have always asked my colleagues to have a high sense of duty and take the broad view. I like a subordinate who has a sense of responsibility and honor, and who works foolishly hard. I don't like people who make meticulous calculations for their own benefit. I work together with my colleagues, and judge their abilities by their work. I return my superior's kindness with hard work."

There are thousands of public functionaries in the Republic of China, and all can rise from the ranks, if they work hard and adopt Minister Hsu's philosophy.

[Picture Caption]

1. Minister Hsu remarked he has had to deal with less paperwork recently. 2. Mrs. Hsu. 3.4. Minister Hsu during the interview.

Left: Minister Hsu spent 3.5 months in the U.S. on an Eisenhower scholarship. Right: Hsu enjoys exercise and is an avid golfer.

Left: Minister Hsu pays special attention to customs. Here he is seen on an inspection tour of the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport. Right: Hsu entertaining the South African Finance Minister.

Mrs. Hsu.

Minister Hsu during the interview.

Minister Hsu during the interview.

Minister Hsu spent 3.5 months in the U.S. on an Eisenhower scholarship.

Hsu enjoys exercise and is an avid golfer.

Minister Hsu pays special attention to customs. Here he is seen on an inspection tour of the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport.

Hsu entertaining the South African Finance Minister.