A very belated thank you for reviewing my book in Sai Kung BUZZ on 25 September 2024. Your take on it was fair and complimentary and for that I’m grateful especially coming from someone who has lived in Hong Kong for a long time and knows the place and people extremely well. Also, your non-police background meant that it came from someone impartial. I say that because some ex-expat police have been critical of the book perhaps focusing too much on the “Betrayal” part of the title, instead of the “Made” part. Thankfully other ex-police expats and the public at large, have been far more receptive of the book.
I would add that not only have some ex-police been, as expected, amusingly critical, and accusatorial instead of inquisitorial, of not only the book but even my pen name, being a compilation of Victor Hugo and George Orwell (Eric Blair) both famous for “knocking the system”.
Aaah the Hong Kong of old – what a place! Such dives as the Red Lips bar and other gems where one could seek refuge over a few San Migs. I did enjoy your compilation of stories in your “Tales from a Barren Rock”. Especially all the aviation adventures. Hence, I nearly fell off my seat when you briefly mentioned Norrie Galbraith on page 147. Norrie and I joined the HK Police at the same time and did our 8 months together at the Police Training School (PTS) – in my book he is referred to as Norman “Norrie” Pinkey. He had a propensity to turn pink under the tropical sun. Given the whistleblowing nature of parts of my book, all the characters therein were given alias names to avoid embarrassment and other potential contentious issues. Yes, Norrie certainly had a “know it all” attitude. During our time at PTS, there was no inkling that he had an interest in flying.
Victor Blair
Be the first to comment