I'm writing this on my Treo while sitting on a little boat, puttering across Hong Kong Harbour. Boats like this one (which is called "Night Star") have been running this route for well over 100 years, and although the road tunnels (with busses, minibusses, taxis and private cars) and MTR tunnels have made them anachronistic, they keep running and are frequently full. They are very cheap - HK$2.2 (about US$0.27) for a one-way ride on the upper, posh deck - and pretty fast - about 7 minutes for a crossing, and frankly they're just fun. They are the single best way to see the Hong Kong skyline, in my opinion, they are pretty calm and serene, they clearly show the fact that Hong Kong is a busy working harbour, and they are a tradition. I can't imagine that the company makes huge profits, if any, but they are both one of the major tourist activities (both for the view and the sheer experience) and at the same time a regular part of life for many residents - and it would be a pity if anything happened to them.

And now, if you'll excuse me, we're just coming into Tsim Sha Tsui and I've got a traditional afternoon's shopping ahead of me...