It's hard to imagine John Lee as a long-haired rocker playing in a rock'n'roll band in between his business studies at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Sporting a business-buzz cut and dressed in a conservative navy blue suit, the 50-year-old entrepreneur admits that while his appearance may look different, his passion for music remains unchanged.

And music runs in the Lee family's blood.

His father, Tom Lee, in 1953 opened a small shop in Wan Chai selling musical instruments. Although Hong Kong was a relatively poor and sparsely populated place at that time, through sweat, tears, sheer determination and the belief in the magic of music, the fledgling business called Tom Lee Music survived the hardships of its early years.

John Lee followed in his father's footsteps and opened his own music company in Vancouver, B. C.

Now a household name in Hong Kong, the company carries a wide product range of nearly 70,000 items sold through its 26 outlets worldwide. Tom Lee Music also teaches music through courses developed in conjunction with musical instrument makers, provides sound and lighting services to events, the largest of which to date were the official ceremonies of the Hong Kong and Macau handover.

Traditionally a Canto-pop culture, Hong Kong's musical tastes have broadened in the last few decades due to the combined efforts of the government and the private sector. But music is not just about cultural growth, he said. It also plays an important role in enhancing personal development of both children and adults.

Mr Lee said he believes learning to play an instrument and an education in music in general is of great importance, and in 1977 his father set up the non-profit Tom Lee Music Foundation to organise music courses and sponsor music activities. Its territory-wide training centres now teach about 8,000 students in various musical disciplines.

Unlike electronic games, which reports now say can actually retard a child's mental development, music encourages creativity, which in turn facilitates a free exchange of knowledge -- an essential ingredient in sustaining social growth, Mr Lee explained.

Mr Lee said his next big challenge is to expand the Mainland market. Tom Lee Music now has retail outlets in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Sichuan to capitalise on rising demand for quality musical instruments and audio equipment.