At this time of great change, of departure for the old sovereign power, let us reflect in this brief look at Britain, upon the timeless solidity it represents, of a country where sometimes everything seems up in the air but really not a great deal moves on at all.
As Hong Kong strides forward, or is it backward, may I offer this brief snapshot of events this week which may prove the point that in Britain at least some things never change.
Take for instance politics. You didn't really expect the new lot to be any cleaner than the previous ones did you? This week saw what may be the first serious allegations about a Labour MP nastily on the make, up to his neck in links to the Serbian regime, accepting dubious 'consultancy fees'.
There are rumours of another scandal about to surface involving a Labour MP and dodgy property development schemes.
Then there is a deepening row over whether or not a cabinet minister threatened to have an MP expelled from the party for defying the government line on government for Wales. Tony Blair says one thing, the MP says another. Labour's honeymoon may be over.
Then there are the Tories. Yes, there is youthful William Hague running the show - but he has brought back a raft of people who have hung their heads in shame over the past decade or so over one scandal or another.