Books published by Hong Kong University Press

In this pioneering study, Sheilah Hamilton shows that, from the earliest days of British rule, the colonial administration introduced harsh legislation to control Chinese watchmen who were employed to protect the fledgling colony's property in the absence of an effective public police force. She examines the growth in different Hong Kong Government departments of what would now be regarded as 'hybrid' police and argues that the existence of such posts within the civil service resulted in greater social control of the local Chinese community at minimal extra expense. Amongst the topics of private security explored are the impact of the few private security personnel engaged by local Chinese organizations such as the Nam Pak Hong, Tung Wah Hospital and Po Leung Kuk; the evolution of the District Watch Force from a force engaged in purely local security duties to an arm of the Hong Kong Government involved in non-security matters such as controversial sanitary inspections; and the unique system of village guards and scouts in the New Territories. A particular focus is the early maritime security problems and the internal security forces of Hong Kong's shipping companies. A final chapter compares the situation in Hong Kong and explores the similarities and differences with Shanghai during the period.

Urban Studies / China

Politics and Government / Hong Kong

FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES A Unique Feature of the Hong Kong Legislative Council provides detailed information on the relevant law of functional constituencies, their place in the Basic Law and with respect to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, their history, a full list of functional constituencies and the size and make-up of their electorates including how certain major companies may control large numbers of votes. Another chapter reports on a pioneering study which polled individual functional constituency voters to build up the first comprehensive picture of such electors. Then the impacts of the functional constituency members on social policy-making and on economic policy are examined, and deleterious effects on economic efficiency of its entrenchment of vested interests argued. An enclosed CD provides a rich resource of additional data on the functional constituencies. In a concluding chapter, Christine Loh explores the constraints for reform of LegCo, the various reform proposals that have been made and suggests how the democratic legitimacy of the Hong Kong system could be enhanced within the current constraints.

This is an autobiography of a woman of unusual strength and determination who grew up in 1930s' Shanghai. Born to a traditional family of China's scholar-official class, she endured incredible suffering as her country was torn apart, first by warlords and later by the invading Japanese Imperial Army. Initially she was given a Western education and, as a teenager, was sought after as a singer of Chinese opera, socializing with tycoons, military officers and statesmen. One of her closest friends was her father's concubine. She witnessed life in the raw in Shanghai as warlordism tore the country apart. When Japan attacked Hong Kong, she and her young family took refuge in Hong Kong -- until Hong Kong, too, was occupied by the Japanese Imperial Army. After the war, saddled with an ageing husband who became increasingly paranoid, she took over the responsibility of single-handedly caring for her young children, while teaching herself such skills as shorthand, typing and bookkeeping so as to get, and keep, an office job. Throughout this time, her one ambition in life was to live in the United States, an ambition she ultimately fulfilled after first living in Borneo, then London and Paris. Finally, at the age of 50, she boarded the SS Queen Mary from Southampton, and on that venerable liner's final voyage sailed across the Atlantic. In the United States, she was reunited with all her children, now grown with successful careers of their own.

This is the first book to focus on respiratory health and diseases in Asia, where 60% of the world's population reside. It is well known that disease patterns and health care delivery vary in different parts of the world. With divergent socioeconomic background, genetic makeup and environmental factors, health care issues take on a unique perspective in Asia. In this volume, respiratory health and diseases are presented and discussed with relevance to their unique epidemiology and management in Asia. The chapters are contributed by professional leaders who are highly respected for their clinical expertise in respiratory medicine in different parts of Asia. Many of them are internationally renowned for their academic excellence. Their collective extensive experience offers a wealth of knowledge that is invaluable to readers not only in Asia but also to other parts of the world. The high mobility of populations exposes clinicians to people from all over the world in their daily clinical practice. This informative book is a useful reference equally for medical students, clinicians in training and respiratory specialists.