In the early years of British colonial rule, Hong Kong went through an interesting and difficult phase of development, while a second generation of local Chinese was born as British subjects. Having received a Western education, this new breed acted as spokesmen and intermediaries and became essential bridges between the government and the people. Perhaps the most distinguished and certainly the most versatile of them was Sir Kai Ho Kai (1859-1914), barrister, physician, reformist, revolutionary and essayist.


Besides tracing the life of Sir Kai Ho Kai and his family, this book contains descriptions of notable social events in Hong Kong in the early years in which Sir Kai played a part, such as the Bubonic Epidemic, the Alice Memorial Hospital, the Hong Kong College of Medicine and the Po Leung Kuk. Also included are sketches and anecdotes of prominent citizens and government officials at that time. Political developments in China during the period, seen as the background of Sir Kai's reformist and revolutionelationship with his student, Dr. Sun Yat-sen.


This second edition is an improvement with the addition of new materials gathered since the publication of the first edition in 1981.