Hong Kong
Former British colony on China’s south coast, now a special administrative region. A GQ profile of Jackie Chan dwells on his strained ties with the city of his birth.
At a glance
| Source | Author | Role | In one line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie Chan’s Plan to Keep Kicking Forever | Alex Pappademas | subject | The piece dwells on Chan’s strained relationship with his birth city: his pro-China remarks, his move to Beijing around 2010, and his… |
| Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind | Yuval Noah Harari | subject | Prize of the First Opium War, kept by Britain as a base for drug trafficking. |
| Around the World in Eighty Days | Jules Verne | setting | Fix drugs Passepartout in an opium den and they miss the Carnatic. |
Sub-places
Jackie Chan’s Plan to Keep Kicking Forever — Alex Pappademas (2017)
Source: Original · Readwise highlight
People say Jackie became a patriot when he got rich, or got rich because he was so willing to become a patriot. Either way, it’s cost him some fans back in Hong Kong, the city of his birth.
- Role: subject
- In the article: The piece dwells on Chan’s strained relationship with his birth city: his pro-China remarks, his move to Beijing around 2010, and his story of failing to donate sandalwood houses to the city because of fire department and political obstacles. He says money matters more than friendship in Hong Kong.
- Why it matters: Hong Kong is the subject of a recurring argument about Chan’s loyalties.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind — Yuval Noah Harari (2014)
Source: Original · Readwise highlight
Furthermore, the British demanded and received control of Hong Kong, which they proceeded to use as a secure base for drug trafficking (Hong Kong remained in British hands until 1997).
- Role: subject
- In the book: After Britain’s war on China over opium, the peace treaty gave Britain Hong Kong, which it used as a secure base for the drug trade and held until 1997.
- Why it matters: A brief example of the state fighting for capitalists’ interests.
Around the World in Eighty Days — Jules Verne (1872)
Source: Original · Readwise highlight
Hong Kong is an island which came into the possession of the English by the Treaty of Nankin, after the war of 1842; and the colonising genius of the English has created upon it an important city and an excellent port.
- Role: setting
- In the book: The Rangoon reaches Hong Kong on 6 November, a day late. Fogg lodges Aouda at the Club Hotel and learns that her cousin has left for Europe, so she travels on with them. On the quay Fix takes Passepartout into an opium den, reveals he is a detective, and drugs him so he cannot warn Fogg that the Carnatic is leaving early.
- Why it matters: It is the last British ground on Fogg’s route, where Fix hopes for a warrant, and the opium den splits master and servant and loses them the steamer.