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Foreword The Rt. Hon Lord Wilson of Tilly orn M J ong Kon g has been very fortunate i n its civil servants, bot h • J Hon g Kon g Chines e and expatriates . The y for m on e o f th e • I pillar s o f th e phenomena l succes s o f th e territor y sinc e th e • / en d of the Second World War. Anothe r even more substantia l m I pillar ha s o f cours e bee n th e shee r energ y an d driv e o f th e Chinese people of Hong Kong, both those born there and those who came from Mainlan d Chin a at times of political upheaval north of the border. Allowing vigour , determinatio n an d th e urg e t o bette r one' s lo t t o take a productive course is a key attribute of good government. "Rulin g the country is like cooking a small fish" i s the wording of a fine piece of calligraphy with which this book opens. I t is a good choice for the story of a man who knew in his bones just what that meant and who understood also another ancient Chinese text: "Th e way to govern a country is firs t to make the people prosperous". From his first arrival in Hong Kong in 1957, David Akers-Jones made it his business to understand and get to know the people of Hong Kong, their culture, thei r history and thei r ambitions. H e must rank a s one of the last of that grea t breed o f District Officers wh o kne w intimately th e people an d th e are a fo r whic h h e wa s responsible . H e neve r los t hi s enthusiasm for listening to the views of younger generations, as anybody lucky enoug h t o hav e attende d hi s informa l discussio n dinner s wil l remember well. For anyon e wh o want s a n understandin g o f ho w Hon g Kon g ha s Foreword The Rt. Hon Lord Wilson of Tillyorn ong Kong has been very fortunate in its civil servants, both Hong Kong Chinese and expatriates. They form one of the pillars of the phenomenal success of the territory since the end of the Second World War. Another even more substantial pillar has of course been the sheer energy and drive of the Chinese people ofHong Kong, both those born there and those who came from Mainland China at times of political upheaval north of the border. Allowing vigour, determination and the urge to better one's lot to take a productive course is a key attribute of good government. "Ruling the country is like cooking a small fish" is the wording of a fine piece of calligraphy with which this book opens. It is a good choice for the story ofa man who knew in his bonesjustwhat that meant and who understood also another ancient Chinese text: "The way to govern a country is first to make the people prosperous". From his first arrival in Hong Kong in 1957, David Akers-Jones made it his business to understand and get to know the people of Hong Kong, their culture, their history and their ambitions. He must rank as one of the last of that great breed of District Officers who knew intimately the people and the area for which he was responsible. He never lost his enthusiasm for listening to the views of younger generations, as anybody lucky enough to have attended his informal discussion dinners will remember well. For anyone who wants an understanding of how Hong Kong has changed, an d th e rol e playe d i n thi s b y dedicate d an d knowledgeabl e expatriate civi l servants, this book o n the life led by David Akers-Jones, backed i n he r life-tim e b y his equall y involved wif e Jane, i s a first-rat e and fascinating introduction . Perhaps one of the most unexpected facts to emerge from the book is that it was not until 197 3 that David Akers-Jones visited Mainland Chin a and, even then, he was one of the first Hong Kong civil servants after th e Communist victor y in 194 9...

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