The menu preferences of Mayfair and Manchester had long been available in Britain"s Far-East possessions, but the full-service European restaurants serving up such treats were prohibitively expensive for most Chinese. While life was tough for many in Hong Kong, there was, however, work with a burgeoning manufacturing industry – notably in textiles, toys and other plastic goods – and the opportunity for social mobility. Many profitable China businesses – and their cash – had also fled cities such as Shanghai to continue operating from the more stable British outpost.