Ronald Reagan, the affable American president and Margaret Thatcher, soon to be known as the Iron Lady of Great Britain, were the nascent leaders of the civilized world. A Cold War was brewing stealthily and perilously between the Americans and the Soviets, the two most powerful nations on earth. Deng Siao Peng, the third generation of leaders in greater China, who was also going to be known as the paramount leader of the Middle Kingdom, took over the helm of the nation and gradually opened it up to the outside world. As history can attest, this action changed not only the lives of hundreds of millions of his fellow countrymen but also changed the history of the nation itself as never seen or witnessed before. Sir Murray MacLehose was then governor of Hong Kong, and the famous Gurkhas were still guarding the long and porous borders between Hong Kong and China. Most Hong Kong residents originated from China and had entered Hong Kong as illegal immigrants; they became citizens once they registered with the government and obtained official Identity cards. The influx of illegal immigrants from China during that period was extremely great for unknown reasons.
The world was still awestruck with Bruce Lee’s kung fu kicks. When he suddenly died at the pinnacle of his popularity, he was just 32, and the world grieved with inconsolable pain. The untimely loss of Hong Kong’s prodigal son was so painful, it was beyond words. While still in mourning, Hong Kong invariably sought out an alternative: that need was dutifully filled by Jackie Chan. Tele Vision Broadcasting or TVB was the top dog of the broadcasting industry and all the top entertainers of Hong Kong were groomed through it. Most of the stars, such as Chou Yun Fat, Anita Mui, Alan Tam and Samuel Hui, just to name a few, who adorned the local and international silver screens, cut their teeth of basic acting here before taking the big jump to the big budget movies and eventually to stardom. Chinese Opera was still a very popular and respected profession and the theater halls were full of enthusiastic followers. Yet, radio, television and cinema were still the main sources of entertainment for the hardworking, law-abiding and resourceful people of this city state called Hong Kong – the brightest jewel of the British crown.
— by Tim I Gurung
[courtesy of Substance Books – Online Book Publicity Services]
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