This morning I take the high speed ferry to Cheung Chau Island, a small island off the western shore. The ferry gently eases back into the harbour, sets its sights around the west edge of Hong Kong Island, growls to the world & attacks the waves. Up it goes on its triplanes, tonnes of vessel leaning as it charges through the harbour traffic like a motor cyclist on the Isle of Man moto GP course.

The harbour is a mess of fishing vessels of all shapes & sizes from large trawlers to small squid boats to junks to coracles to palettes, yes wooden palettes to go between shore & ship. A real working fishing island. The quayside is noisey & crowded with locals, school children, fishermen & sellers. The best purchase is the fresh custard tarts – absolutely gobsmackingly gorgeous.

The busy working shore is a facade to a maze of small narrow streets where normal life takes place on a micro scale. Streets are a few metres across so any deliveries are by cart, builders’ vehicles & rubbish cards are on a mini scale as is the local ambulance – just like micro cart city.