Hong Kong
I’m posting this page from the departures lounge at the new Hong Kong airport. So that’s it; the 2007 big trip is all over – except for the grim business of the return trip to Glasgow and a few restless nights until we are over the jet lag.
Hong Kong was definitely worth the visit, big visual changes since my last trip in 1990, lots of new buildings and reclaimed land, including the award winning new airport complex, built by pushing an entire mountain into the sea!
The mix of visitors has changed a lot since 1997; around 40% are now from Mainland China, something unheard of during the days of British rule. The mix of industry has changed a lot too, much of the manufacturing and light assembly work has been moved to new purpose-built plants on the mainland, where labour costs are much lower than in Hong Kong.
We did the usual tourist stuff, like Stanley Market, Victoria Peak Tram, visit to a jewellery factory, etc. All good fun, and with the results that you can see in the photo set.
Another trip was out to the New Territories, mainly to look at the Buddhist and Taoist temples at Lohan and Tai Po. This was a very instructive and thoughtful tour, led by Don, a local history buff and culture enthusiast and someone who knows what he’s talking about. Don maintains a photo blog to show the sort of stuff that he is interested in; he could be a worthwhile contact if you plan a Hong Kong visit.