HK

The title of Chan's book is, in itself, intriguing.

To put it simply, the book begins with a case in 2013, when Inspector Kwan was dying. The stories that follow are reverse in chronological order, with the last one happened in 1967, when Kwan was a junior PC and encountered his first important case. You can see the book as a fragmented biography of an eminent police officer, but it is also the rise and fall of a legendary city. I am particularly touched because I was born during the 1967 riots, experienced the glory of an economical miracle, and see the putrefaction of all its cornerstones.

And I'm sure that's the real purpose of the author. In fact, Chan obviously did an extensive search in the background information. All the stories seem to originate from real-life cases. Many of the scenes happen in famous places. If you did live in this city from 1967 to 2013, you would find the details of all these stories touching - they are real snapshots of how we lived in those days.

I would strongly recommend this book to all genuine Hong Kong people, as well as everyone who wish to take a glimpse on our living in the past 50 years.