I also see Sha Tin, where we lived, when it was all farms and the only short interruption in every beautiful day was the train to the mainland slowly moving through the countryside at regular intervals.

I see long trips to Lai Chi Kok Amusement Park and slow trips to Stanley on the No6 bus before it was more than a very quiet fishing village where the fishermen dried fish by the small embankment in the morning sun.

And I see Sunday nights, when families came together playing mahjong and talking into the night before another day of hard work.

My favourite teacher was Mrs Bradsher at HKIS. She was inspiring and had a magical way with students. I recently got in touch with her through her son Keith, who is The New York Times' correspondent in Hong Kong. It was great to remember those times and talk to someone who was so important in your life.

After all, that period was an exciting time for all of us, with the end of the Vietnam War approaching and a feeling that China would soon open up.

My favourite subjects were history and geography. I studied quickly in Cantonese. I recently met a friend from my Sha Tin days, Mr Wong. He remembered me and my red bicycle and how we played basketball in front of his small village on summer days. We agreed it was a special place and a special time to be alive. We all miss the old times for their simplicity, honest labour and a more quiet life.

Life is uncertain and I never really knew what I was going to do in the future. In fact, I still don't.

I started writing my first book, The Monkey in Me, because I was confused and concerned with the crazy situation in the world. I really wanted to make a call for conscience and caring as so many people are suffering and confused.

I look forward to a future where we as a planet do what is right for each other without coercion. After all, we all know deep down that caring for each other is important.

The book is also dedicated to the Chinese people who have taught me so much. It is, in fact, in large part a thank you to Hong Kong for being such a wonderful place and occupying such a meaningful part of my life.

My second novel is an intellectual detective thriller set in Hong Kong entitled The Reluctant Terrorist. It's completely different yet still touches on learning to care for people and realising that we all have problems in life and need to be there for each other.

I've found my writing is important to me because it allows me to share a wide range of emotions, ideas and experiences, especially in Asia, that have been kept inside of me for too long.

Now, when I look back on my schooldays, I can truthfully say they were a miracle precisely because of Hong Kong.

And although I have lived in the mainland for the past 15 years, in my heart I will always be that young boy learning to love Hong Kong and missing it when I am away. I can never thank Hong Kong and its people enough for making those days so special.

Caleb Kavon was talking to David Phair.