Made in Hong Kong

Made in Hong Kong captures the culture and commerce of Hong Kong through observations and illustrations collected over Fred Schneiter's decades living in the city. The book combines text and cartoons to document local customs, business practices, and daily life. Schneiter draws from his extensive experience as an advertising executive and longtime Hong Kong resident to examine both the traditional and modern aspects of the city. His illustrations highlight everything from dim sum etiquette to office politics in Chinese companies. The work creates a bridge between Eastern and Western business cultures while maintaining cultural respect and authenticity. Through humor and straightforward commentary, it presents insights into Hong Kong's unique hybrid of traditional Chinese values and international commerce. The book serves as both a practical guide and a cultural archive, preserving observations of Hong Kong during its transformation from British colony to global financial center. Its enduring relevance stems from its focus on the human elements that persist despite rapid modernization.

Most online reviewers describe this as a nostalgic and humorous look at Hong Kong's business culture of the 1960s-1980s. Several expat readers note that it captures their own experiences dealing with local manufacturers and traders during Hong Kong's industrial heyday. Readers highlight: - Authentic anecdotes about cross-cultural business dealings - Historical details about Hong Kong's manufacturing evolution - Insight into Chinese business practices and etiquette Common criticisms: - Some stories seem dated or stereotypical - Writing style can be unpolished - Limited perspective (mainly focuses on Western businessman viewpoint) Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) One Amazon reviewer notes: "Having done business in Hong Kong since the 1970s, I found this book brought back many memories of similar experiences." A Goodreads reviewer counters that "while entertaining, some cultural observations border on caricature."

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🏮 Fred Schneiter lived in Hong Kong for over 35 years, working in advertising and experiencing firsthand the city's transformation from a manufacturing powerhouse to a financial hub. 🏮 The book reveals how Hong Kong earned its nickname "borrowed place, borrowed time" due to its unique status as a British colony on borrowed Chinese territory, operating on a finite lease. 🏮 While documenting Hong Kong's business culture, Schneiter highlights how feng shui consultants were routinely employed for major business decisions, including the design of Hong Kong's Bank of China Tower. 🏮 The author describes how Hong Kong's famous "bamboo capitalism" emerged, where entrepreneurs would start businesses with minimal capital and grow them through networking and informal financial arrangements. 🏮 Despite focusing on business culture, the book captures a pivotal period in Hong Kong's history, spanning from its manufacturing heyday in the 1960s through its return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.