Starting From Scratch

After opening the commercial port, Hong Kong changed itself into an international cosmopolitan from a desolate fishing village within a century. This history was mysterious and legendary, which was regarded as a myth in the past. The author of this book tries to look for information in different historical files and documents, analyze the vicissitude of different commercial families, and systematically explore the tortuous journey Hong Kong experienced from 1841 to 1941. The author gives profound explanations for such issues, for example, how the big and rich families enhance the business and trade, participate in social construction and even have an deep influence on the political, Chinese and foreign issues; how big families maintain their family power and interact with the society through joint marriage, cooperation and inheritance.