The Mao Circle is the third novel in the Chinese Circles series, which takes the surviving characters from The Hong Kong Circle up to the next challenge to face the tiny colony – the riots of 1967 which almost destroy it. Then on to 1973 when I arrive in the Colony!.
While the colony rebuilds, it is constantly looked over its shoulder. Watching them is their mammoth neighbour and the threat of Mao Zedong’s communist revolution.
Hong Kong will always have a special place in my heart and I could not describe it better than Richard Hughes in his book, ‘Borrowed Place Borrowed Time’ which he starts by saying,
‘A borrowed place living on borrowed time, Hong Kong is an impudent capitalist survival on China’s communist derriere, an anachronistic mixture of British colonialism and the Chinese way of life, a jumble of millionaires’ mansions and horrible slums, a teeming mass of hardworking humans, a well-ordered autocracy.
It was founded on contraband and conquest, it is insufficient in food and water, it lacks coal, oil and all natural resources save granite, sand, fish and homo sapiens. It is a rambunctious, free-booting colony, naked and unashamed, devoid of self pity, regrets or fear of the future.’
My characters from the earlier novels are again woven into actual events. The Guest Group continue to thrive as one of the leading ‘hongs’, but beware, a shock awaits the reader. Joseph’s Sung triads become even more powerful as they seize control of the drugs trade. The Hong Kong police, and their new recruit Adrian, pit themselves against the triads and the rioters but also discover the depth of corruption within the Hong Kong Police force. A new character, Yan Ho, living near Shanghai, was eight when Mao took over in 1949, and we trace his traumatic life growing up under the communist regime, and his ultimate goal to reach Hong Kong.
Historians still argue about the actual numbers dying from famine or persecution in China during Mao’s various campaigns. Estimates range from 45 to 70 million. Whatever the true number, it means Mao was the biggest mass murderer in history, far exceeding Hitler and even Stalin.
The characters in my new novel live through twenty traumatic years of death and destruction in China, and the constant threat Mao poses to the tiny colony of Hong Kong.
The Mao Circle was released in January 2023 and is available as an eBook or paperback on Amazon. Some links – USA. UK, Spain, Canada, Australia
As usual, I’ve added some notes in Facts and Fiction and also some photos to give some background about the fascinating history of the two places in these years. China Photos and Hong Kong Photos. However only look at that these if you wish to learn about the history of the period in advance. I would prefer you actually read the novel first. In Acknowledgements I thank the authors, various sites and people who have helped me on this particular journey.