'After seeing the ad in a newspaper, I decided to try my luck. Fortunately, I was engaged and, after a few weeks of training, I became a shop assistant at the Athlete's Foot shop in Causeway Bay.' Ms Tong says she has learned a lot in the past year from how to deal with different customers to knowledge of different sports shoes and materials.

Working as a garment quality controller she had only worked with the product, whereas in her new job she dealt with people.

'It is a thrill to be able to talk to tourists from all over the world; I had never had anything to do with foreigners at all before,' Ms Tong said.

But there were also difficulties. First, she had to adapt to the long hours - 11 am to 11 pm - and to her 17-year-old daughter cooking dinner.

In addition, there were language problems. However, after courses in Putonghua and English, plus help from her colleagues, she can manage.

'I am lucky to have found a new career and am happy. Most of my former colleagues are doing part-time jobs. Some have gone to China to work, or even to Sri Lanka,' she said.