Hong Kong  - Pilots and flight attendants with two Hong Kong airlines were in an uproar Tuesday after being ordered to memorise a creed about company values, and threatened with punishment if they are unable to recite it.

The 10-line creed has been circulated to all staff at sister airlines Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express, with a warning that random checks will be conducted by managers to ensure that everyone has learnt it.

Described in a memo to staff as an "apothegm," or a concise statement of principle, the 68-word creed is three words longer than the Christian Lord's Prayer and contains dense and archaic phrasing.

Among its lines are: "Perseverance is the rule to sturdy progress," "Diligence leads research to accession of knowledge," "Careful recipe is the best medicine to health" and "Kindliness to youth endows the superior with virtue."

In the accompanying memo, employees are told to "study the following apothegm thoroughly and apply it in daily life. All staff should keep firmly in mind the apothegm."

"Management will conduct the random spot check(s)," it said. "Please note that punishment will be given to those who could not recite the apothegm."

The instruction comes weeks after Hong Kong Airlines, which operates regional flights to China and south-east Asia, fired a group of pilots after they refused to accept substantial pay cuts.

A pilot with one of the two airlines, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Everyone is astounded by this instruction. It isn't as though we haven't got more important things to worry about.

"Flight attendants have been going around with the apothegm written out on cards since the memo went out, trying their best to learn it whenever they get a free minute.

"They are very worried because no one has said what the punishment will be for not memorizing it. Cabin crew are worried that it might be used as a way to get rid of staff."

A flight attendant, who also asked not to be named, said: "It is very insulting. It's like being back in primary school. Do they think that threatening us with punishment is really the way to get the best out of employees?"

Shirley Kwok, product manager for Hong Kong Express, declined to say who wrote it or what the intention was behind ordering staff to memorise it. "We are not able to comment on internal company policy," she said.

Kwok also declined to say what punishment would be given to employees who failed to memorize the apothegm.

John Findlay, general secretary of the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association, said, "When I first heard about this I thought it was a joke. When I discovered it was true I was incredulous.

"I have never heard of any reputable airline ordering staff to recite corporate culture words at the risk of being punished if not able to do so. Perhaps the next step will be to issue a little red book of required reading and learning."