We went to China via Hong Kong. So naturally we had Chinese food – much enjoyed, with final stir fry magic performed by the story teller, familiar with eastern foods.
Martin’s story began in the previous century with the trade between China and the UK. We British loved china tea, silk and China loved our silver. But we ran short of silver. An idea dawned to woe the Chinese with Opium grown in our colony of India. It worked, and the Chinese became addicted to the drug. The Opium Wars began. China’s efforts to suppress the illegal opium trade and Great Britain’s demands for free trade.
We learned that there were 3 Opium wars: the 1st Opium war (1842) ceded Hong Kong to the British, but HK was a worthless swamp. The 2nd Opium War (1860) ceded further territory to the British and the 3rd, (1897) critically, the Northern Territories, the green belt, making HK sustainable. The date was 1898 and the lease was granted for 99 years.
Fast forward to 1998. Well a bit before actually.
Martin landed in HK in 1884. His arrival was in the shadow of the effects of the Cultural revolution: the repression and countless deaths of the Great Leap Forward, and repression, between the years 1966-76. Thousands escaped, many intellectuals, and most easily to Hong Kong. As the hand over date loomed closer, these migrants, fearful of what would come with the return to China, migrated further, to Vancover, London, and Leiston (evidently). Martin arrived in this inbetween time. He came on holiday to visit his sister. He fell in love with the life: the high rise, the street food, no more shopping or cooking, outside cafe eating, Chang Dau Beer, and such rich diversity of friends, international, and stimulating.
Work was easy to find, and Martin walked into Radio presenting. His wife Barbara became a teacher, their one year old son became one of 4 children the further 3 being born there.
The transfer time, 1997, was memorable. Based on the 3 questions at the start of the day: Where, why and who. Being a member of the Labour party, Martin met many prominant politicians. Tony Blaire – obsequious. Francis Maud, Edward Llewellyn (Baron Llewellyn of Steep) Chris Pattens Assistant. Martin escorted Robin Cook on a Junk boat to Lamma island famous for it’s sea food restaurant. The sea became rough, the water came in and spashed on Robin Cooks polished shoes. Later Robin Cook was asked to apologise for the Opium Wars, and he refused. Reflecting on this now, Martin considers this may because it was not a singular fault, but multiple and complex, with deep corruption on every level of society. Chris Patten once called up Martin and asked him to accompany him in his ambassador car to the radio station so they could discuss the interview on the way. Blue lighted all the way from Government House to HK radio station. And all the traffic lights turned green.
Why did Martin leave? He wanted to bring his children up in the UK, and felt that HK was a dead end now returned to China. However, his two sons have both returned there, and lead a fine and happy life. One, under the nae Ghost, making films of deserted buildings.
Gratitude to Martin for sharing his story with us. In the go round at the end we declared we’d learned much, shocked how small Hong Kong was,
