“You miss your mother, don’t you …” he said tenderly.
She nodded. “That’s not why I’m crying, though,” she said. “I’m crying for Hong Kong. I fear for its people.”
“No,” Bond said, kissing her softly. “The people will manage. Don’t worry about them. They are strong, and they are determined. So don’t cry.”
“All right.” Sunni smiled and wiped her face. “No tears for Hong Kong.”
She allowed him to encircle her with his arms as they looked towards the skyline to watch the fireworks.
ZERO: 1 JULY 1997, 12:01 A.M.
In Statue Square, the handover of the British Crown Colony known as Hong Kong was executed peacefully and smoothly. Formal statements were read by both sides, and the representatives from China shook hands with the representatives from Great Britain. As soon as the transition was declared official, there were tumultuous cries from the people standing in the congested streets. Some were cries of joy, and others were cries of sadness. The fireworks began, filling the sky with colours, noise, and celebration.
Over at Government House, a few blocks away, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time, and the red and yellow Chinese flag was raised in its place. A new chapter in the history of Asia, and mankind, had begun.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ZERO MINUS TEN
The author wishes to thank the following individuals and organizations for their assistance:
IN THE U.S. AND CANADA:
Kevin Chin, Paul F. Dantuono, Sandra Groark, Alexandra Harris, Dan Harvey, Daisy Koh, Joseph Lau, Hen Chen Lee, Charles Plante, Doug Redenius, David A. Reinhardt, Moana Re Robertson, Kathy Tootelian (for the mahjong illustrations), Mike VanBlaricum, Amanda Wu, Kenneth Yung, and everyone at Viacom New Media.
IN THE U.K.:
Peter Janson-Smith, Carolyn Caughey, Man Wei Tam, Pradip Patel and Rina Gokani of the Chiswick Pharmacy, Corinne B. Turner, the staff of Glidrose Publications Ltd., and the heirs of the late Ian Lancaster Fleming.
IN HONG KONG AND AUSTRALIA:
Sarah Cairns and Henry Ho of the Mandarin Oriental; Terry Foo of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank; Eric Lockeyear, Mark Bowles, and Peter IP Pau-juk of the Royal Hong Kong Police; Marg Mason of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Tourist Centre; Jacqueline L.S. Ng; James Pickard; and Jeanie Wong and Stephen Wong of the Hong Kong Tourist Association. Special acknowledgement is made to the Royal Hong Kong Police for permission to use material from the Government Press book Triad Societies in Hong Kong by W.P. Morgan (Crown Copyright Reserved, 1960).
Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT PAGE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
AUTHOR’S NOTE
1
SHAMELADY
2
THREE EVENTS
3
CALL TO DUTY
4
A BRITISH LEGACY
5
THE PEARL IN THE CROWN
6
THE PREVAILING WIND
7
JADE DRAGON
PRIVATE DANCER
9
INTERVIEW WITH A DRAGON
10
MARKED FOR DEATH
11
ASSASSINATION
12
ONE OF THE LINKS
13
TRIAD CEREMONY
14
BEDTIME STORY
15
DAY TRIP TO CHINA
16
AGONY AND ANGER
MEN OF HONOUR
18
THE GOLDEN MILE
19
FAREWELL TO HONG KONG
20
WALKABOUT
21
COUNTDOWN
22
NO TEARS FOR HONG KONG
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS