Hong Kong on the Brink: An American Diplomat Relives 1967's Darkest Days

Syd Goldsmith€s first taste of China€s Cultural Revolution is blood on his tongue.

It€s 1967. Hong Kong is simmering, plagued by communist-led riots and strikes, crippled transport, punishing water-rationing, takeover threats from Beijing and roadside bombs. And Syd €" the only Caucasian Foreign Service Officer at the American Consulate General who speaks Cantonese €" is made responsible for reporting and analysis of the Hong Kong government€s ability to survive.

The CIA station chief and the head of Macau€s gold syndicate play major roles in Syd€s story, along with Newsweek€s Sydney Liu and Maynard Parker, and a steady stream of inquiring foreign correspondents and China-watchers. Richard Nixon makes a cameo appearance €" to talk football with Syd since the consul general won€t see him €" in this riveting memoir of a year when Hong Kong€s €œborrowed time€ seemed about to expire.