Hong Kong Aberdeen

Recognisable by their large-brimmed hats these boat-dwellers were once forbidden to live on land or marry land people and were born, married and died aboard their sampans and junks. Since the early 20th century however they have had equal rights with land-dwellers and most now choose to live on land in the high-rise apartment blocks for the benefit of their children’s education but some still remain on houseboats in the harbour. The port still has a large fishing fleet although this has been in decline in recent years. Small fishing boats sail within about 100 nautical miles of Hong Kong in the South China Sea but some of the larger junks can sail as far as the Philippines, Malaysia and beyond. Fishing is not the only industry in Aberdeen and the town also has shipyards, light manufacturing businesses, engineering works, textile factories and warehouses. For tourists the main attraction is the harbour and its floating restaurants.