A Concise History of Hong Kong Beyond the usual tale of Hong Kong becoming the Oriental pearl, John

Caroll exposes more nuanced observation of the ground of history on which Hong Kongs future is built. The historian uses a fact-based approach to narrate the gradual development of Hong Kogn over a course of 150 years, balancing the bright and dark sides of the often-raved miraculous story. What lacks in history class in secondary schools is the linkage between local, Chinese history with the world history. Caroll weaves these two spheres together to narrate what Hong Kong represents, an encounter between East and West. When discussing the socioeconomic issues at the time, Caroll considers the position of Chinese government at the time, British Empires colonial strategy, and even with regards to the international affairs as he sees fit. Such approach, in comparison with the often rote-learning textbook materials, provides a broader understanding of history of Hong Kong policy-making, highlighting the unique political and economic position of Hong Kong and the significance of its development in the world. The book generally applauds for the effective governance of the British colonial government before 1997. Or rather, the British government did more goods than harms for Hong Kong people, leading them through political and economic turmoil up till 1997. Carroll acknowledges the efforts contributed by later Hong Kong governors to defend for Hong Kong interests when British government no longer interfered with the local affairs. They even went against British governments interests to protect that of Hong Kong in economy and social welfares. If you want to understand why both people frequent both the clubs in Lankwai and the temples in Wong Tai Sin, Carroll traces the blend of culture observe how Hong Kong morphs its unique blended culture and its subsequent - The historical origins of Segregation of Chinese speakers and foreign born (and the in-betweens) - Acknowledgement of the efforts of British government to defend for the welfares of HK people Sino-British joint declaration more details of the negotiating process / streamlined narration lacking nuances in the back-and-forth process in the negotiation A historical approach to examine political development in HK 1967 violence development of political parties

Mostly started in 1980s and accerlates in the bygone days of Chris Patten, reversal of favour (democratic versus pro-Beijing elites)