Looking around the world, nearly every developed country has been through a bloodless "war" against corruption. The gradual, fumbling progress made allowed them to begin to establish rule of law, to use the law to control corruption, and to push society to develop in a clean, transparent, and fair direction. In passionate terms, The Summons of Centuries Past describes for us the history of Hong Kong's fight to control corruption. From the shocking police corruption of the 1960s, to the cancer of Hong Kong's corruption metastasizing to all corners of society; from the twenty-fifth governor of Hong Kong Murray MacLehose's efforts to rein in corruption, to the establishment of the vaunted Independent Commission Against Corruption, to repeated clashes between the corruption and anti-corruption camps, to the final establishment of Hong Kong's "zero-tolerance" attitude towards corruption, Zhang's book portrays the process of transformation through which Hong Kong was able to bring corruption under control and establish good governance. She shows for the reader a near-three-dimensional rendering of how "a patient with a body covered in sores was able, through grueling, unsparing surgery, became a world-renowned 'model citizen'." The book makes clear that fighting corruption is a systematic project, and introduces the creation of a culture of clean governance and its accompanying institutions in Hong Kong, as well as the city's "twelve columns" approach to the transformation. The specific, successful measures Hong Kong took to prevent corruption and promote a correct outlook—one that emphasizes honesty and fairness—are both edifying, cautionary, and valuable as reference points. This is the book's standout section, and if the author were to expand it into a standalone work of its own, it would be enormously valuable.
The Summons of Centuries Past does not shy away from any of the serious contradictions Hong Kong faces. With an open, honest attitude and commendable bravery, the author directly confronts these conflicts and contradictions, such as the clamoring of the "Hong Kong secession attempts" crowd, the repeated "spittle wars" [1] between portions of mainland and Hong Kong society, and the burning of the national flag, among other incidents. Zhang's thorough investigation, and her precise grasp of trends in Hong Kong mainstream opinion, allows her to make a well-founded, fact-based case for the pioneering nature and bright prospects of "One Country Two Systems, Hong Kong Ruled by Hong Kong People" , based on the long-held positions and clear attitude of a majority of Hong Kong's people. The book also contains a great deal of reflection on the part of the author. She does not seek to feign profundity, but rather maintains a consistently grassroots attitude. This sort of deliberate choice means these reflections are short on philosophical flourishes, and long on the concerns of average people, short on empty theorizing, and long on actual specifics. As such, it can better represent, and better manifest the thinking of the greater mass of the people. This particular characteristic is on full display throughout the book; when contrasted with some other accounts that make a show of sagacity, quoting the classics at every turn, it makes Zhang's work seem all the more down-to-earth and inspirational.
To what do past centuries summon us? This is the central issue presented to us by the book, and the way in which it is presented leads directly to Zhang's main thrust. I believe that our readers will pay heed to the summons of history, reflecting on the stories of yesterday, examining the reality of today, and looking forward to what tomorrow brings.
Bai Miao
28 August 2013
