From the Publisher
"Mr Sheridan's chapters on the years leading up to the handover are particularly impressive...he takes the reader into the smoke filled rooms where tetchy talks and endless muscle-flexing take place. The pages are filled with fascinating sketches of the main protagonists." — The Economist
"Sheridan's account testifies to the Western dreams about China and to the ways they are shattered. ... Sheridan describes how China crushed Hong Kong's democracy movement and its street protests ... "The Gate to China" details the regime's use of its cyber-capabilities to monitor dissent, block communications and even interfere with efforts to measure public sentiment in Hong Kong." — The Washington Post "You can understand a lot about China's relations with the rest of the world ... by looking at how the leadership in Beijing has dealt with Hong Kong ...The Gate to China meticulously details why this is so ... in this very readable book Sheridan takes the reader through the tortuous Sino-British negotiations that led to the handover ... impressive ... fascinating" — Sunday Times"Highly readable ... Sheridan covers the Sino-British negotiations over Hong Kong's future in engaging detail...he adds colour to existing accounts ... provides a welcome contrast to many of the existing histories of the period" — Literary Review"An authoritative history of Hong Kong and its relations with the UK and China ... even-handed ... Analyses with a wealth of documentary evidence the motivations of Chinese leaders in seeking to reverse historical humiliation" — Financial Times"Sheridan's gripping and richly researched history sheds a highly critical light on those British officials of the Thatcher era who seemed to favour Beijing's autocracy over the promotion of liberal values and movingly recounts the brief hopes of Hong Kong's reformers whose democratic enlightenment has turned to darkness" — Rana Mitter, BBC History Magazine"Authoritative ... Hong Kong's story is full of drama, politics and personalities and Sheridan tells it well, drawing from a wide variety of Chinese and British sources" — Observer"Deeply researched and beautifully written, Sheridan's book provides a fresh perspective on the extraordinary story of Hong Kong. His depiction of the motives, fears, internal struggles, and negotiating tactics of the Chinese officials who dealt with Hong Kong is a revelation, with broader lessons for a world watching the rise of China. The Gate to China is essential reading for anyone interested in the saga of a city whose fate has dominated the headlines." — Mike Chinoy, former CNN Senior Asia Correspondent and Beijing Bureau Chief 1987-1995"A delightful piece of writing and research which describes the remarkable history behind the handover of this unique and exciting city. The unravelling of the deal between the Chinese Communists and the British gives a bitter-sweet flavor to Sheridan's brilliant portraits of the individuals who played a role on both sides." — Jasper Becker, author of The Chinese