Hong Kong as a Global Metropolis

The history of Hong Kong as a metropolis since its foundations to its handover to China in 1997.

"his work provides a useful and focused description of the international commercial history of Hong Kong." The International History Review"Meyer outlines the processes by which intermediaries group or compete and shows how, as intermediaries become more specialized, they facilitate the exchange of high-level information...Meyer account, detailed but always readable, not only shows how Hong Kong developed into one of the leading Asian business centres but also explains why palces such as Canton and Shanghai failed to make the grade. Hence the breadth of this book is much wider than the title would suggest, as it provides a useful account of the ways that China's internal and external trading relationship developed and operated." THE CHINA JOURNAL"A welcome addition to the literature on Chinese social networks as the relate to the growth of the economies of China and Southeast Asia." China Review International

David Meyer traces Hong Kong's history from its foundations to its handover to China in 1997. Throughout this period, Hong Kong has been pivotal as a meeting place of Chinese and foreign social networks. The author is optimistic for its future, challenging those who predict its decline under Chinese rule.

List of figures; List of maps; List of tables; Preface; 1. Enigma; 2. Intermediaries of capital; 3. From Canton to Hong Kong; 4. Hub of the China trade; 5. Chinese and foreign social networks of capital; 6. Trade and finance center for Asia; 7. Industrial metropolis; 8. Global metropolis for Asia; 9. Hong Kong, China; Bibliography; Index.