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SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 1977
SCORES OF PEOPLE LINED BALCONIES TO WAVE AND SMILE AT THE VIP VISITORS AND AS SHE WAS LEAVING A CROWD OF BARE-CHESTED LADS WHO HAD BEEN PLAYING FOOTBALL IN THE CARPARK SURROUNDED HER DAIMLER TO SHOUT IN ENGLISH: +HULLO HOW DO YOU DO? NICE TO SEE YOU. +
MRS. THATCHER HAD A JOLLY CONVERSATION WITH THE YOUTHS.
+WHAT DO YOU MAKE?+ SHE ASKED, WANTING TO KNOW WHAT WORK THEY DO.
HONG KONG-WISE, THEY REPLIED: +FOUR HUNDRED A MONTH HUNDRED A MONTH MAYBE TWO THOUSAND A MONTH.+
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AND EVERYBODY, INCLUDING THE VIPS' STOLID ESCORTS, HAD A GOOD LAUGH.
STILL SMILING, MRS. THATCHER SHOOK HANDS WITH SEVERAL AND AMID THE YOUTHS' CHEERS THEN DROVE OFF, COMMENTING TO MR. LIAO: +1 CAN'T GET OVER THE HAPPY SPIRIT AMONG THE PEOPLE, SPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE. IT'S JUST MARVELLOUS.+
SHE WAS THEN DRIVEN THROUGH SOME OF THE OLDER KOWLOON ESTATES, SEEING AMONG OTHER THINGS THE IN-SITU CONVERSION TAKING PLACE AT LOK FU ESTATE, AND THEN AT OI MAN PAUSED ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF TAK MAN HOUSE TO EXPERIENCE THE +CHIMNEY EFFECT+ OF THE COOL AIR CIRCULATING IN ALL TWIN-TOWER HOUSING BLOCKS.
+ IT'S LIKE AIR-CONDITIONING, SHE SAID WITH A SMILE.
AFTER VISITING THE CHENG FAMILY'S 350 SQUARE FOOT FLAT AND TALKING WITH HUSBAND, WIFE AND CHILDREN, SHE COMMENTED ON THE FINISH OF THE FLAT, SPECIALLY THE MOSAIC TILES, AND THE CLEANLINESS OF THE ELOCK GENERALLY.
ESCORTED TO THE OI MAN COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, SHE BRIEFLY EXPERIENCED THE BUSTLE AND NOISE OF A LARGE CHINESE RESTAURANT SERVING DIM SUM TO PACKED TABLES, SAW A DEPARTMENT STORE AND WAS INVITED BY MR. LIAO TO WALK THROUGH THE MARKET STALLS +PROVIDED YOU DON'T MIND A BIT OF BLOOD.+
+WHY NOT? SHE SAID, AND WALKED WITH INTEREST AMONG STALLS SELLING GUTTED FISH, LIVE POULTY, PORK AND BEEF,
+MAY WE SEE ANOTHER FAMILY?+ SHE ASKED MR. LIAO, AND 300N WAS IN A LIFT ON HER WAY TO VISIT THE WONG FAMILY'S FLAT IN HONG MAN HOUSE, HERE AGAIN SHE LOCKED AT EVERY ROOM AND ALL FACILITIES, CHATTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY AND ASKED MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT INCOME, JOBS AND SCHOOL FOR THE CHILDPEL,
THEN, PASSING THE COOKED-FOOD PAVILIONS WHERE MORE PEOPLE WERE HAVING AN EARLY LUNCH, SHE SPELT THE AROMA OF COOKING FOOD AN COMMENTED TO OFFICIALS: +SMELLS VERY TASTY.+
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AT THE