While studying philosophy, politics and economics at Balliol College, Oxford, he was reportedly ‘rusticated’ – or suspended – for failing to study hard enough.
He was described in one student magazine article as ‘terminally spending’ and was said to have a ‘strained relationship with books’.
According to contemporaries, he once organised a Silk Road Ball at Oxford, which included a kung fu display by Shaolin temple monks from China. And he impressed fellow students by arranging for movie star Jackie Chan to deliver a lecture, and even sang on stage with him.
One contemporary, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He was well known as a party boy. I remember in freshers’ week he bought an enormous amount of champagne for everyone and had a huge party in his room.
‘When he was rusticated, the Chinese ambassador came to Balliol with some Chinese secret service guys to say that it was embarrassing for his father. ‘He was rusticated at the end of his second year and college did not give him any teaching support after that.’