When Teresa first arrived in Hong Kong 10 years ago, there were only 24,800 Filipina amahs at work; now there are more than four times that many, and locals complain that the women occupy the city center on Sundays, their one day off.
A generation ago, middle and upper-class Filipinos were likely to have poor Chinese as amahs. Today the situation has flip-flopped.
Eric Pretty was a little bit fussy, but I stayed there and really felt like a big shot with all the Portuguese
amahs. We had about six [servants], two drivers, and here was an ex- British Resident staying with me under the same roof.