THE legendary rags to riches stories of well-known Hong Kong tycoons are being spread faster than ever, as writers and publishers scurry to release books on successful fortune-makers.
This growing interest in other people's roads to success follows the strong sales of the biography of property tycoon Li Ka-shing, published two years ago. The book, written by Xia Ping - originally from Shenzhen - sold 20,000 copies in one year.
Other names that have been turned into titles include Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, Stanley Ho Hung-sun, Louis Cha Leung-yung and Tsang Hin-chi, the tie-maker. Asian kung fu star Jackie Chan is known to be taping major events until the time for a final write-up of his career.
Legislator Vincent Cheng Hoi-chuen claimed to be interested in accounts of people's lives and has read about foreign dignitaries, such as Margaret Thatcher and George Bush.
'There is a lot to learn from those who have reached the top, like how to deal with major issues or crises in life. But I only read autobiographies since I want to know the person's own thinking. It is doubtful whether a biographer really tells the truth.' Few local celebrities have so far taken up the task of writing. The local market, however, has lately been flooded with biographies by authors who could be eager to make a name for themselves. They are known to get between 10 to 15 per cent of the sales.
One biographer is 30-year-old Zou Zao-gui, from Guangzhou, known to his readers as Leng Xia, meaning 'cool summer'. The Hainan-born author moved to the territory two years ago and already has two biographies boasting brisk sales.