ItrepresentsoneofthefinesttraditionsinChineseculture:thetraditionofcreativity,ofthefreedomofthought,freedomofspiritandfreedomoftheimagination.ThesearethecharacteristicsofHongKongliterature.
TheBestChina,anexpressiontraditionallyusedtorefertothefinestcrockerybroughtoutwhenoneisentertainingspecialguests,hasbeenadaptedheretomeanthebestchinesetraditionoffree-thinkingdiscursiveprose.
ThisanthologyofessaysfromHongKongandthediaspora,rangingacrossthepasthundredandseventyyears,recordstheintellectualfermentthathascharacterizedthecitysinceitsfoundingin1842,sometimesrestlessandquestioning,sometimesmeditativeandlyrical,buoyedbyanall-pervasiveandindomitablespiritoffreedom.
