There's an old woman who spends her days kneeling by the ferry pier on Lamma Island, asking disembarking boat passengers for their recyclable Coke and beer cans. She's 95 years old. I see her every time I travel to eat at the big restaurants on Lamma. When we see each other, we shriek like a couple of long-lost sisters, and give each other big hugs. She calls me her god-daughter and often takes me to her home nearby. I love this old woman.

Our relationship symbolizes a side of Hong Kong that many people just don't see. Hong Kong people aren't interested only in making money and rushing around. And despite what many think, we aren't heartless. We're also human beings. We have times for simple pleasures, like my friendship with this woman whose name I don't even know.

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