"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
But who was Peter? What was his story?
Well, before he took to being a tailor he had been a famous kung fu fighter; a rich playboy, a regular frequenter of the pleasure houses of Macau; a gambler (he had run three gambling joints in Canton when the Communists walked in); the brains behind a gang of armed robbers (he alone escaped arrest when their third robbery went wrong); an associate of triads - and, before all that, he had been the owner of the biggest string of Mongolian ponies at the Hong Kong Jockey Club - that was during the war years when he was a leading collaborator of the Japanese. He had once, for a very short time, owned all the opium in Hong Kong!
Later, after his tailoring days had gone flat, he was paid by a CIA officer to report on events in China. This was during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution, when Red Guard factions fought amongst each other.
Some periods in history are best illuminated by the stories of men and women who lived through them. This is one of those stories. As we follow Peter's life - his ups, his downs - we see in sharp focus what it was like to be a Chinese man in the British colony of Hong Kong through most of the years of the 20th century.
This is the true, bizarre story of a man who knew everybody and saw everything. He wasn't a wicked man. He was just trying to get by, like everyone else. This is his truly fascinating story.
And yet this book is not just one man's story. It is the story of a time and place - colonial Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and the south China hinterland between Hong Kong and Canton - seen from the unique point of view of a man who was at home at all levels of society. There are, for example, no other published accounts of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong as seen from the non-combatant Chinese perspective.
The World of Suzie Wong was a best-selling novel in the 1960s - and this story is its background. If Suzie had been a real girl, Peter would have known her.
In addition to his writing work he has founded two charities: The Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association and Mental Handicap Network China Ltd.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9789889979980
Book Description Condition: New. Brand New. Seller Inventory # 9789889979980
Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # GZ-9789889979980
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. Peter Hui was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This is the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. If Peter had been only a little bit different he could have been an important man. But this is a riches to rags to riches to rags story. As we follow Peter's life, we see in sharp focus what it was like to be a Chinese man in the British territory of Hong Kong through most of the years of the 20th century. And yet this book is not just one man's tale. It is the story of a time and place -- colonial Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and the South China hinterland -- seen from the unique point of view of a man who was at home at all levels of society. This is the bizarre story of a man who really did, for a very short time, own all the opium in Hong Kong. If Suzie Wong had been a real person, Peter Hui would have known her. Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. The author was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This title tells the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9789889979980
Book Description Condition: New. Num Pages: 348 pages, 5 b/w photos. BIC Classification: 1FPC; HBJF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 216 x 143 x 18. Weight in Grams: 440. . 2010. Paperback. . . . . Seller Inventory # V9789889979980
Book Description Condition: New. Num Pages: 348 pages, 5 b/w photos. BIC Classification: 1FPC; HBJF. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 216 x 143 x 18. Weight in Grams: 440. . 2010. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9789889979980
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 352 pages. 8.40x5.50x0.70 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # 9889979985
Book Description PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # GZ-9789889979980
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. Peter Hui was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This is the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. If Peter had been only a little bit different he could have been an important man. But this is a riches to rags to riches to rags story. As we follow Peter's life, we see in sharp focus what it was like to be a Chinese man in the British territory of Hong Kong through most of the years of the 20th century. And yet this book is not just one man's tale. It is the story of a time and place -- colonial Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and the South China hinterland -- seen from the unique point of view of a man who was at home at all levels of society. This is the bizarre story of a man who really did, for a very short time, own all the opium in Hong Kong. If Suzie Wong had been a real person, Peter Hui would have known her. Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. The author was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This title tells the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9789889979980
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. Peter Hui was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This is the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. If Peter had been only a little bit different he could have been an important man. But this is a riches to rags to riches to rags story. As we follow Peter's life, we see in sharp focus what it was like to be a Chinese man in the British territory of Hong Kong through most of the years of the 20th century. And yet this book is not just one man's tale. It is the story of a time and place -- colonial Hong Kong, Portuguese Macau and the South China hinterland -- seen from the unique point of view of a man who was at home at all levels of society. This is the bizarre story of a man who really did, for a very short time, own all the opium in Hong Kong. If Suzie Wong had been a real person, Peter Hui would have known her. Scandal and corruption, drugs and pirates, triads and flower boats; the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and the Communist take-over of Canton. The author was there. He knew everybody and saw everything. This title tells the real story of Hong Kong, told with the rich flavours of the street. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9789889979980