Sha Tin, Hong Kong. Apparently my guide book was very very old, Sha Tin estuary was not as described ''a jewel of nature with all kinds of diverse plants and water birds in abundance." the estuary had had been transformed into something equivalent to our own South Bank in Brisbane, but on a much larger scale a consumer Mecca for the New Territories. Even the much vaunted Sha Tin mountainsides were stripped of diversity, raked clear of all sticks and leaves (fear of wildfire) by women workers who covered their faces for shame of doing such menial work.

I followed the old man in the disney like gardens that now cover the estuary he was carrying a songbird, in an inexpensive bamboo bird cage of the type that can be purchased at Mong Kok markets. He stopped at the outdoor tables of a tea house, a daily ritual, greeted his friends. Then to my amazement he opened the cage door, the bird looked up, appeared to be listening to his voice, hopped out, took flight then alighted in the nearest tree amongst what I saw to be a a large group of similar birds.
I sat down and drew for a while observing at various intervals the old men and women escaping their blocks of 'coffin apartments' playing card games, conversing arguing, laughing. Then as each took their leave, the cages would be offered to the air and the birds would return to go home with the owners.

On the last evening in Hong Kong I was conversing with our hostess at a reception party held for us at her home on the Peak. We had just finished discussing her collection of Francis Bacon portraits, that she said reminded her of me, a dubious honour I thought, but meant as a compliment. I was recounting my experience in the Sha Tin garden as we were watching the other guests. I was fascinated to see that even at a formal function just as before during the project we had all been working on, that they were not at all self conscious in picking up their cell phones to cut a conversation off mid sentence and answer or make a call.

"You think it quite rude don't you?" She was amused at my obvious disaproving reaction and explained to me that it was quite normal in Hong Kong and very important to be seen to be getting and making important social and business calls. "I think there is a real business opportunity here." I mused, "To set up business that provides regular calls to customers, people could sign up to different plans,'' I offered with an ironic edge. She was about to respond, when we were interrupted by a somewhat urgent repeating, ring tone, that was coming from a handbag on the seat next to us.

A middle aged woman, white faced suddenly appeared from across the large reception room and as if her life depended upon it, came running towards us. She lurched across the table, upset drinks and grabbed the phone from the bag. The conversation was terse, and was abruptly ended by the other party, the woman then hurriedly stabbed at the touch keys, got no answer, repeated the action, still no answer, stuffed the phone in the bag and left the room in some disarray. Seeing my curiosity, our hostess by way of explanation said, shaking her head, "Oh its her husband, he told her he was having to go away again, to the New Territories for a time on business.

I began our conversation again, but was cut short by our hostess, "I must tell you about my next project" she said, " Have you been down to Mong Kok yet?." ''I am concerned about the number of Hong Kong wives being divorced and left to work on the streets you understand, in menial jobs or selling themselves." Husbands It seems are finding much more compliant wives in the new China.
"If the first wife complains, she is out, my husband never travels alone on business, I wont permit it," she added with effect." Its after eleven I'll call my driver and take you and your wife for a drive to Mong Kok Road to see."