Could Lamma Island, that veritable haven of the international backpacker-cum-casual worker, be on the edge of an economic downturn akin to that of some Southeast Asian nations? The last of the automatic one-year visas for Britons expire at the end of next month - and many Brits resident in Yung Shue Wan are shuffling off into the sunset.
In particular, many on the single-year visas with jobs in bars or selling sandwiches have either already left town or are dusting off their backpacks.
Residents are reporting an exponential increase in the number of notices glued to the wall on the way to the ferry pier, advertising house-clearance sales.
With the amount of competition on offer, it is now possible to get a colour television, video and stereo, all for less than $500.
Local Western bars and restaurants can't get staff. One pub has been advertising for Western bar ladies for weeks, to no avail.
And even the poor local estate agents can't escape the fallout. They seem to have more flats to lease than they can find space for in their windows.
