Hong Kong Remembers

by Sally Blyth (Editor)

The story of Hong Kong's social, political, and economic development - from the post-War period to the end of its life as a colonial territory - is a remarkable Chinese-British story. This book contains first-hand accounts of life and times in Hong Kong by luminaries, former governors,
officials, politicians, business people, artists, and average people - natives, émigrés, and expatriots alike. Their recollections are opinionated, personal, poignant, amusing, and always informative. Collectively they provide a unique and valuable account of Hong Kong history.

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 16, 1997

Reviews

[Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book written around mid 90s comprised of chapters each written by different person, and I only read those which I found interesting.

Here's some of the words from Zunxi and Jimmy Lai. They were optimistic at the time, and it's a bit sad looking backward now:

Zunxi - // People ask whether I will continue to draw cartoons like that after 1997, making fun of Chinese leadership. I argue that it will be good for Hong Kong if I do. If I keep on with my cartoons in the same way after 97, and China allows them to be published as they are now, the it will be a good sign. IT will show that Hong Kong hasn't changed as a result of transfer of sovereignty. If I stopped, it would send out the wrong signal.//

Jimmy Lai - //I have to face reality.The Chinese, if they want to, can stop my business anytime. What the hell can I do?//

There are chapters by others such as Martin Li, Anson Chan, Tsang Yok Shing, Chris Patten, Lord Wilson and Lord MacLeHose which are not entirely uninteresting, if you want to understand the general feeling and what's behind the mind of the people in Hong Kong during 80s and 90s.

I think Sir Piers Jacobs, ex Hong Kong Chief Finance Secretary, had the best conclusion though on the future of Hong Kong at that time:

//So I see a growing emphasis on the 'one county' part of the formula. A number of things will obviously survive. A number of concepts set forth in the Basic Law. But name me any situation in which something can stand still or follow a closely defined particular course for fifty years? Can you envisage someone in twenty years time waving the Basic Law and say "one country, two systems"? It doesn't happen like that, does it?//

[Sarah Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

A series of chapters -- each chapter is dedicated to a figure of Hong Kong whose memories of life in Hong Kong helps paint a picture of what Hong Kong was like from the immediate post-civil war period in the late 1940s through the rebuilding under British imperial rule and the years of economic prosperity leading up to the 1997 turnover to China.