Walking the Tycoons' Rope: How ambition drove a poor boy from Ningbo to compete with the richest men of Hong Kong and Singapore

by Robert Wang

Robert Wang fled the Chinese civil war as a child and came to Hong Kong with nothing. It was a harsh place in the 1950s but he was determined to rise to the top. With the 1997 handover to China approaching, and no one knowing what the end of British rule would bring, Robert hatched an audacious scheme to safeguard the fortunes of Hong Kong's richest tycoons –- but swimming with sharks has its dangers.

Genres: China, Business, Memoir

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Amar Pai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining. I thought it was going to be an indepth look at the backstabbing, strategic maneuvering and high flying life of Hong Kong billionaire tycoons, and there was a little of that, but it was more a random and interesting collection of stuff about this guys life...

Stories of his aunties and uncles suffering through the Cultural Revolution
Description of what Bruce Lee was like at school (he went to boarding school with Bruce Lee! That Bruce Lee!)
Random fling with a French au pair that later breaks his heart
Forbearance, eating bitterness, but tough soul and honesty (he puts career above kids)

Just an unexpected, hard to categorize treat. I'm glad he wrote this.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible rags to riches story of Hong Kong attorney Robert Wang. As a young refugee from China, Wang and his family struggle in 1950s Hong Kong. They often go hungry and have to share already cramped living space with several families. In his late teens, Wang sees his friends travel overseas to continue their studies. Although not a top student, Wang applies himself to his studies and gains admittance to a college in the UK. But his financial troubles are far from over there. In fact, it's his own compatriots and relatives who treat him like an indentured servant in the UK. His luck changes after a while and he dates a French au pair who has recently graduated from the Sorbonne. Following a surprise break-up, Wang returns to Hong Kong alone and sad about his lost love. From then on, he works hard and finds success in his profession and family life. As a well-known and respected attorney, he secures permanent residency in Singapore for Hong Kong's wealthiest tycoons in the years leading up to the 1997 handover. Although a unique story, Walking the Tycoons' Rope is a testament to the people of Hong Kong who have overcome troubling times, be it the influx of refugees in the 1950s and 1960s, the fear of the Handover in the 1980s and 1990s, or the economic crisis of the 1990s and 2000s. This is a perfect book for anyone who is interested in modern Hong Kong history or enjoys a story about hard work and perseverance.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. It's good to read about the life story of one of Hong Kong's elite especially the difficult growing up he had. Other than that, this book gives a good insight into the development of Hong Kong over the years.