Jackie Pullinger

Jackie Pullinger is a British Protestant Christian missionary who has worked in Hong Kong since 1966. She is known for her work with drug addicts and gang members in the Kowloon Walled City district during its most notorious period. The missionary became prominent through her book "Chasing the Dragon," which details her experiences helping heroin addicts and gang members find recovery through Christian faith. Her work began when she arrived in Hong Kong at age 22 with little money and no formal missionary training. Pullinger established the St Stephen's Society in Hong Kong, which continues to operate drug rehabilitation programs and outreach services. The organization expanded from its origins in the Walled City to help people throughout Hong Kong and other parts of Asia. Her methods of rehabilitation notably combined Christian practices with addiction recovery, developing an approach that didn't rely on conventional medical treatments. Pullinger continues to speak internationally about her experiences and maintains involvement with missionary work focused on addiction recovery.

Readers consistently highlight Pullinger's raw honesty in describing her missionary work with drug addicts and gang members in Hong Kong's Kowloon Walled City. Her main book "Chasing the Dragon" receives praise for avoiding sensationalism while documenting challenging situations. Readers appreciated: - Direct, unvarnished writing style - Personal accounts of transformation - Practical details about addiction recovery - Balance of faith elements with real-world actions Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - Writing can be basic/unpolished - Later chapters lose momentum Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (850+ ratings) Christian Book: 4.9/5 (120+ ratings) One reader noted: "She tells it exactly as it happened without sugar-coating." Another mentioned: "The story grips you but the writing itself isn't sophisticated." Her follow-up books receive less attention, with "Crack in the Wall" averaging 4.2/5 from fewer than 200 total reviews.

Chasing the Dragon (1980) Details Pullinger's missionary work in Hong Kong's Kowloon Walled City, focusing on her experiences with drug addicts and gang members.

Crack in the Wall (1989) Chronicles the expansion of Pullinger's ministry beyond the Walled City and the establishment of the St Stephen's Society.

Within These Walls (2006) Documents stories of transformation among Hong Kong's marginalized communities through Pullinger's continued mission work in the city.