Hong Kong’s colorful and complicated past comes to life

Derek Sandhaus, author of Tales of Old Peking, once again brings his unique scrapbook style to print, this time focusing on the history of Hong Kong.

The layout of the book is disconcerting at first, as his sources include anecdotes from visitors and residents, various newspaper clippings and popular songs lyrics. They’re all scattered among old photographs and advertisements.

Once you get your bearings, however, the arrangement actually allows you to skim or jump around. Despite the book’s seemingly random construction, Sandhaus loosely begins with the British takeover in 1841 and meanders towards more modern musings in the late 20th century, covering topics from the plague outbreak of 1894 to Hong Kong pirates.

The book on this former British colony holds a lot of fun historical facts that make great cocktail party conversations. What better way to break the ice than to off-handedly remark that, in the 19th century, Hong Kong used to be referred to by the moniker FILTH: “Failed in London? Try Hong Kong”? This is just one of many such gems you’ll find.

■ Andrea Scarlatelli

Tales of Old Hong Kong, Earnshaw Books, ¥140 at Chaterhouse and Garden Books