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King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the
Opium in Hong Kong
by
Jonathan
Chamberlain
with a foreword by
Sir
David Tang
NON-FICTION
PRESS
RELEASE
December
10,
2007 – For immediate release
NEW BIOGRAPHY REVEALS AN UNTOLD SIDE OF
HONG KONG’S STORY
 Hong Kong – Author Jonathan Chamberlain this week
announced the publication of King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the Opium in
Hong Kong, a biography which tells the amazing story of Peter Hui – a Hong
Kong man who was a playboy, casino operator, kung fu fighter, collaborator,
corrupt police employee, associate of triads, armed robber, political prisoner,
and spy.
“This book represents the most significant Hong Kong
narrative since the publication of The World of Suzie Wong and Taipan
– the difference being that this story is true,” said Chamberlain.
Indeed, as Hong Kong personality David Tang
Wing-cheung comments in his foreword: "This is a true story but it reads like a
novel. It is a cracking read."
King Hui tells the story of Hui’s life in his
own words. Hui was well-connected at all levels of society, and he witnessed
most of the important events of the 20th century: the Japanese invasion and
occupation of Hong Kong, the murder of Lee Hysan, the Communist takeover of
Canton (Guangzhou), and the Cultural Revolution. Through his eyes we also learn about
piracy in southern China, the arrival of the Shanghainese triads, Hong Kong’s
role as an R&R base for US servicemen, and political sensitivities towards
Taiwan. As a Chinese man’s account of his past, King Hui also serves as a
counter-balance to the stories of Chinese women which have emerged in recent
years.
“The value of this book lies in its perspective,”
said publisher Pete Spurrier. “There are, for example, no other published
accounts of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong as seen from the non-combatant
Chinese point of view. And the richness of detail is remarkable. It is a
warts-and-all portrayal of this city and its people; a ‘stinky tofu’ history of
Hong Kong.”
About the Author
Jonathan Chamberlain was brought up in Ireland and Hong Kong. After graduating
in Social Anthropology at Sussex University, he returned to Hong Kong where he
lived for many years as a teacher and writer. He is now a full time author. His
previous works include Chinese Gods (An Introduction to Chinese Folk Religion)
and Cancer: The Complete Recovery Guide. In addition to his writing work he has
founded two charities: The Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association and Mental
Handicap Network China Ltd.
Book Details
Title: King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong Kong
Author: Jonathan Chamberlain, with a foreword by
Sir David Tang
ISBN: 978-988-99799-8-0
Format: Paperback, 348 pages
Pub date: December 2007
Cover price: US$17.95 / HK$140
Availability: All good bookshops,
www.amazon.com and affiliates, or
www.blacksmithbooks.com (postage-free within Asia)
Further Information
Pete Spurrier at Blacksmith Books: tel. (+852) 2877 7899
新聞稿
2007年12月10日 〔即時發放〕
新出版自傳，揭露不為人知的香港故事
香港 — 愛爾蘭作家Jonathan Chamberlain於本周宣佈其新書《King Hui:
The Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong
Kong》正式出版。這是一本口述歷史的自傳，介紹曾經當過花花公子、功夫打手、政治犯、和間諜，為侵華日本人賣力、開過賭場、賄賂警察、與黑社會打交道、持械行劫等等的香港人——許順其（Peter
Hui）的傳奇故事。
Chamberlain
表示，「此書是繼《蘇絲黃的世界》及《大班》面世後，最能敘述香港歷史故事的一部重要作品，而此書的不同之處，在於它不諱言地把故事的真實一面帶出來。」
香港大亨鄧永鏘爵士亦在其序言中評說，「這是香港的真實歷史，然而讀起來卻像小說一樣，絕對值得一讀。」
King Hui
一書為許爺（許順其）的口述歷史，描述其一生的故事。許氏與社會各階層關係密切，並見證了香港於20世紀的重大事件：日本侵華及佔領香港，利希慎被害，共產黨接手廣州，以及文化大革命。透過許爺眼中的世界，我們得知有關南中國的間諜活動、來自上海的黑幫、香港作為向美軍提供休憩及娛樂服務的基地、及對台灣的政治敏感。作為一名中國男性對其過去的歷史敘述，King
Hui也成為了一本另類作品，平衡了近年眾多一面倒有關中國女性的故事的單一觀點。
出版商Pete
Spurrier指出，「這自傳的價值在於其獨特的描寫觀點角度，譬如現時還沒有其他的文獻，以非作戰的中國人角度來描述日治時期的香港。另外，此書的內容也非常豐富及出色，作品不避嫌好壞，如同香港的『臭豆腐』歷史，全面描繪這個城市的一切。」
有關本書作者
Jonathan Chamberlain於愛爾蘭及香港長大。他畢業於英國薩塞克斯大學（Sussex
University）社會人類學系，然後回到旅居多年的香港，從事教學及寫作工作。他現為全職作家，作品包括Chinese Gods (An
Introduction to Chinese Folk Religion)中國諸神（中國民間宗教入門），和Fighting Cancer: The
Complete Recovery Guide對抗癌症：全面康復手冊。除了寫作著書，他亦成立了兩個慈善機構：
香港唐氏綜合症協會及中國弱能人士網絡公司（Mental Handicap Network China Ltd.）
著作詳細資料
書名: King Hui: The Man Who Owned All the Opium in Hong Kong （許爺：擁有全香港所有鴉片的人）
作者: Jonathan Chamberlain, 由鄧永鏘作序
ISBN: 978-988-99799-8-0
Format: 平裝本，348 頁
出版日期: 2007年12月
售價: US$17.95 / HK$140
網上購書:
www.blacksmithbooks.com/9789889979980.htm
資料查詢
Pete Spurrier, Blacksmith Books出版社: 電話. (+852) 2877 7899
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