Set against the backdrop of regional and international post–Second World War tensions, Grounded at Kai Tak is the most comprehensive account of the complex legal struggle for ownership of 71 airplanes belonging to the two main Chinese airlines, which were stranded at Kai Tak airfield in Hong Kong at the end of the Chinese civil war. The resulting contest for possession of them took place in the courts and among politicians and diplomats on three continents. In the process, the struggle became entangled with the anti-communist policies of the United States in the emerging ‘Cold War’, British hopes for restoration of her pre-war commercial position in China, disagreements between nations about recognition of the new government in Peking, and the delicate balance that the colonial government of Hong Kong had to keep to preserve that colony’s interests. Merry tells the tale of this legal saga by weaving together archival documents and news reports of the day, revealing the international alignments that emerged from the aftermath of the wars and the colourful cast of actors that influenced the outcome of the dispute. This struggle would go on to become one of the leading public international law cases on the recognition of governments at the time. ‘This is the first book-length monograph on the legal and diplomatic battles for the ownership of the seventy-one aircraft grounded in Hong Kong. Set within the wider context of the Chinese civil war and the Cold War and packed with passionate characters, the book reads like a historical novel. A major contribution to Hong Kong history, legal history, and international history.’ —Chi-kwan Mark, Senior Lecturer in International History, Royal Holloway, University of London ‘This is a fascinating story, eloquently told by one of the true experts of Hong Kong’s modern legal history. By analysing the struggle for possession of seventy-one planes from many different angles, the author offers brilliant insights into law, society, and politics in post–World War II East Asia.’ —Lutz-Christian Wolff, Dean and Wei Lun Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

In Hong Kong Public and Squatter Housing: Geopolitics and Informality, 1963–1985, Alan Smart and Fung Chi Keung Charles trace two decades of development of squatting in Hong Kong. The authors reconstruct the government policy on squatting through both ethnographic and archival research. The book sheds new light on the consequences of various attempts to control encroachment on scarce urban space. It argues that intersecting policy agendas resulted in decisions that were often not desired, but which emerged as practical solutions from prior failures. The authors address the challenges of explaining confidential policy decisions and offer new approaches applicable in other contexts. Overall, Smart and Fung make an important contribution to the understanding of how public housing and squatting interacted in influential ways that have been poorly understood and offer new perspectives on the challenges of urban governance and housing problems. “The definitive history of how resettlement policies evolved as the squatter population swelled and as London and Beijing moved closer to signing the 1984 Sino-British Declaration. A masterful combination of theorizing and documentary sleuthing, a landmark in contemporary debates over the optimal responses to the formalization of informal property.” —Deborah Davis, Yale University “Smart and Fung offer a fresh and thought-provoking analysis of the changing state-society relations in the postwar decades by unravelling the complexities of Hong Kong’s urban landscape through their critical analysis of the question of informality and the issue of squatting.” —Lui Tai-Lok, Education University of Hong Kong “Employing ethnography and combing through archives, Smart and Fung uncover how the British formalized squatter housing. Highlighting questions of sociopolitical and historical change by analyzing bureaucratic and geopolitical forces—a fascinating project delving into the nature of colonial rule, immigrant resilience, and political economic structures. A major contribution to evidence-based settler colonial studies.” —Setha Low, City University of New York

In Man in a Hurry: Murray MacLehose and Colonial Autonomy in Hong Kong, Ray Yep explores the latest available archival materials and re-examines MacLehose’s pivotal governorship in Hong Kong (1971–1982). MacLehose arrived in the challenging 1970s, when there were expectations for social reforms, uneasiness in the relationship between Hong Kong and London, and the 1997 factor looming large. The governor successfully carried out various social reforms and he also handled various major issues, including the anti-corruption campaign, the Vietnamese refugee crisis, and the granting of land lease of the New Territories beyond 1997. Yep unveils the tension and bargaining between the British government and explains how interest of the colony could be asserted, defended, and negotiated. This book is an important study of Hong Kong’s ‘golden years’ when the city’s economy took off. It is a significant contribution to our understanding of how local autonomy was defined. “Ray Yep is one of the leading historians of Hong Kong. His latest book, Man in a Hurry, compellingly tells the story of how Hong Kong’s state and civil society modernized under its longest-serving colonial governor, Murray MacLehose. Drawing on extensive research into newly-available primary sources, Yep shows that MacLehose, a “reluctant reformer”, navigated a path between an increasingly assertive and expectant population and a newly intrusive British political class to help create a prosperous and well-managed territory and a city of global importance. Anyone interested in the making of contemporary Hong Kong needs to read this book.” —Mark Hampton, author of Hong Kong and British Culture, 1945–97 “Yep’s long-awaited book is the first archive-based account of MacLehose’s governorship through the lens of sovereign-colony interactions. By combining historical research with theoretical insights, the book not only makes a major contribution to Hong Kong and British imperial history, but also provides valuable lessons for managing post-1997 Beijing–SAR relations.” —Chi-kwan Mark, Royal Holloway, University of London

This very personal account provides unique insights into the training and life of a dedicated Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. There are also fascinating accounts relating the history of the profession. Dr. Miller underwent extensive training both in Australia and overseas prestigious institutions. In addition to delivering well in excess of fifteen thousand babies in his private practice, in his long career he was responsible for numerous thousands more in his roles as medical superintendent of the then largest maternity hospital in the state and specialist consultant in charge of units in large teaching hospitals.He was also a specialist surgeon. The book is eminently readable and although there are descriptions of obstetric procedures and surgical operations it is certainly not a medical text. His credo; – to be a good doctor one needs knowledge, proficiency in his craft, compassion and humility. Otherwise he will be merely skilled. “While Dr. Miller’s reminiscences are bound to interest his peers and medical colleagues, they are written with a great deal of wit, verve and charm, and make fascinating reading for the layman. The author’s lightness of touch makes the memoir accessible and easy to read, and while he deals with many topical issues ( I found the recollection of his experience in delivering one of the first Thalidomide babies deeply moving ), these moments are balanced by Dr. Miller’s obvious pride in his profession, and his delight in sharing many amusing anecdotes along the way. No reader can close the final page without the feeling an enormous debt of gratitude to those who have have worked so tirelessly in this field to ensure our own or our loved ones’ safety during pregnancy and childbirth." —Annette Gilbert, The Raven’s Parlour Bookstore

This book is a poignant story of a small-town boy, who stumbled into a lifelong flying career spanning 38 years as a pilot. Now at 99, Captain Ho Weng Toh, one of the last few remaining Flying Tigers, recalls the many events that shaped his life. It takes the readers through his journey of good and bad years, the trials and tribulations encountered, his journey from being a refugee student to becoming a Chinese Air Force B-25 bomber pilot, his will to live, the burning desire to contribute towards the WWII effort and his endurance of all the trials and hardships all alone and often in silent solitude.Captain Ho shares memories of his childhood days and his growing-up years in Ipoh, his family and important values imparted by his father, his wonderful friendship with his buddy of eight decades, Meng Seng and his romantic encounters.In 1941, while being a student in Hong Kong, Captain Ho witnessed bombs dropped by Japanese bombers which signalled the start of WWII — a war which not only altered the course of history but was a major turning point in his life. Its impact consequently shaped the course of his life.He encountered many trials and uncertainties during the war years. But beyond the dark clouds and thunder storms, there was new hope and adventure. He encountered new adventures in Singapore, where he used his flying experience to carve out an illustrious career. In 1951, he started flying for Malayan Airways, the predecessor of Singapore Airlines (SIA). Through his 30 years of flying career with SIA, he saw the Airline grow from a fledgling Airline of three DC-3s to a modern international Airline.His strong passion for people, sports and travel were hallmarks of his life which enabled him to live a long and fulfilling life. Having a deep appreciation of the importance of friendship, he values his friends dearly and often travels the globe to reconnect. Being keenly interested in people and world affairs, he is extremely aware of human needs and is ever concerned for people that comes his way, fighting for the underdogs, offering guidance and a little helping hand to those in need. Such qualities together with his flying experience has helped him successfully train and groom several generations of young local pilots who eventually had successful careers at SIA.Related Link(s)

Illustrated - (Total of 100 B & W pictures) - The Battle of Hong Kong took place between 8th December and 25th December 1941. This is the tale of the Stanford family and how they were affected by this battle. It tells of life in the Army, life in the colonies, the battle, the infamous Lisbon Maru, and how the family coped with the war, evacuation, repatriation, and post war - Will also be of particular interest to aircraft enthusiasts, with 16 of the pictures being of aircraft at the time of the fall of Hong Kong - Japanese, civilian and allied aircraft are covered.

Tells the tale of an historical ambiguity. "The Colony That Never Was" can be read as shorthand for all the political anomalies, constitutional complexities and geographical surprises that make the story of Hong Kong unique.

A memoir of flying Hawker Hunters for the famed aerobatic display teams, and other adventures in aviation. Brian Mercer is one of the most outstanding postwar RAF fighter pilots and in this eminently readable autobiography he recaptures life as it was in the days of transition from flying piston-powered aircraft to jet power. His flying and leadership skills resulted in a long association with what was then considered the finest aerobatic display team in the world—Treble One Squadron’s Black Arrows. Flying the elegant black Hawker Hunters in large formation displays was no easy task, and Mercer explains in great detail how their legendary precision was achieved, revealing many exciting incidents en route. When Treble One’s Hunters were replaced with the supersonic Lightning fighter, it soon became clear that these superfast aircraft were not suited to close-up display flying. Brian was then asked to form a new RAF display team and continue with Hunters. This was to become the No. 92 Squadron’s Blue Diamonds, who inherited the star role. Faced with the fact that future promotion within the RAF would move him from cockpit to desk, Brian elected to join the then-fledgling airline Cathay Pacific, and his story also includes many lively accounts of incidents that occurred while he was flying from the company’s home base at Kai Tak in Hong Kong.

R.A.F. World war two, U--boats.