Summing up

If I had to describe Hong Kong in two words those would be ‘commercial bustle’.  It certainly shames our commerce. Let me give you an example. Having lost 2 pair of glasses in India, I called my opticians for a new pair. A fortnight later they were not ready. Yesterday I attended an optometrist in Kowloon near the hotel. He did a sight test and had 2 pairs ready this morning. Cheaper too.

I can see why the tour guide scooted ahead, losing 3 passengers – everything and everyone moves at frenetic pace. Even the driver taking my baggage moved so quickly I could hardly keep pace.

Like most taxi drivers here he was fund of of knowledge explaining that the British leased the New Territories as a buffer and when that lease expired the Chinese wanted the lot back.

Only in my travels does New York compare for its commercial vitality. John Pargiter would be happy here. The Chinese are huge gamblers. They are not interested in odds: its 50-50 to them. Either you win or lose.

The old airport, which was so tight in landing the driver said you could see the TVs in the homes below, has now been moved to a different island and is the modern mall with miles to walk and long queues.

Give me a cruise ship for all its officiousness any day.

The regime of the cruise ship and two communist one-party states (Vietnam and China) make me relish flawed but democratic Britain.