The smartphone ad on the exterior of the building read: THAT ERA HAS PASSED. NOTHING THAT BELONGED TO IT EXISTS ANYMORE. Did the company have to pay royalties to Wong Kar-wai or Liu Yichang? Mrs Chan wondered. In an ad quoting a literary work that is better known for being quoted in a film, who should pay royalties to whom? Had the ad agency and their client given this question as much thought as she had? But surely this multinational smartphone company, which had more loyal followers than any government or religion in the world, wouldn’t make such a careless mistake.

Era, era. While waiting to cross the street, she noticed that some of the graffiti on the pavement and walls had been covered up with various kinds of grey paint, but the outline of the word ‘era’ was still faintly visible in some places. Even her aunt, who’d been on her case to have a baby early on, said that Hong Kong was such a mess now that it would be best for her to get out if possible. Her aunt was the sort of traditional woman who always spouted off maxims such as ‘Couples’ quarrels are soon mended’ and ‘All problems can be talked through’. Perhaps she’d decided to go to America to help raise her grandkids, which also was in keeping with her character: in order to be considered safe and secure, a woman should follow her husband, or her children and grandchildren, forever defined by her womb and her man.

• Tags: Hong Kong, Issue 21, Jennifer Feeley, Wong Yi