The Editor,
S
urely my friend Huw Watkin can't have met Mr You Hockry in his "newly restored
French-colonial villa". This gentleman was indeed awarded a handsome if aged
colonial villa, in an area where concentrations of Interior Ministry A3 crack troops
were often seen. But he had this villa reduced to rubble (not restored), replacing
it with a Thai 'style' one, and thereby showing that he shared the exquisite aesthetic
tastes, and love of national heritage, displayed by many of Phnom Penh's newly (and
often unaccountably,and undisclosably) rich. But at least Mr Hockry's villa isn't
pink or green!
- Philippe Hunt, Phnom Penh