For a start, let me introduce the nature of this book first. This book is telling us the writer’s own personal stories. It’s about life in Hong Kong and the writer, Mr. Martin Booth, is actually an Englishman who came and lived in HK for 3 years when he was 7 years old. He came to Hong Kong from Britain with his parents during the 1950s and 60s. His father was a traditional man who did not talk much to his children while his mother encouraged Martin to learn and accept new things in a new environment. The short time he spent in Hong Kong gave him such an interesting and unforgettable childhood that he remembered it well all his life and in his heart he regarded Hong Kong as his home.

One reason why I share this book with all of you is that this book has an unusual title, which may attract all of you to read my review. “Gweilo” is a Cantonese word meaning a ghost-like man. Although the average Chinese person and some foreigners think that it’s no big deal and not at all insulting or racist to refer to or address a westerner as “gweilo”, it is actually rather insulting to do so. If a westerner calls himself or herself “gweilo”, that is another matter. By putting him or herself down, the westerner is being humorous and wants to be considered one of the locals. 

Besides having an unusual title, this book is a sincere book as well. It is written from the perspective of a young boy who sees the distinct differences in the two interestingly inter-mingled cultures. Martin Booth describes a Hong Kong familiar to all those who have lived here a long time. For example, the Dai Pai Dong where he used to visit and talk to local people and where he met and made friends with a street-sleeper who called herself the “Queen of Kowloon”; the amahs in black and white uniforms and their hair in a long, shiny plait; the temples with monks, fortune tellers and burnt incense; Hakka women with fringed hats at walled villages in the New Territories; the mysterious Kowloon Walled City where there were triad gangs and opium dens. Among other Hong Kong icons he mentioned are rickshaws. Until recently, there were still one of two at Star Ferry for tourists to take a try ride in or pose for photos. Now you’ll only find one in the Hong Kong Museum of History at Tsim Sha Tsui.

Lastly, I must mention why Martin Booth wrote the book. In 2002, Martin discovered he had a tumour in his brain. His grown-up children, who were in their twenties, asked him about his early life in Hong Kong. He was suddenly struck by the idea that he had never had the chance to learn about his father’s early life, which made it impossible for him to understand his father and to develop a good relationship with him. He wanted to share his life and love with his children by writing this book. He also wanted to pay tribute to Hong Kong.

I hope you may wish to read this book after reading my review on this book. Thank you.