<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal>Pirates, plagues, pistols, and poisons: with adventure of all varieties, this is a rollicking journey into colonial Hong Kong. A collection of historical odds and ends—stories, quotations, cartoons, postcards, and drawings—this book recounts in thrilling detail how a “barren rock” seemingly destined to fail rose to become one of the richest trading outposts in Asia.