Junk HUANTIAN in St Katharine Docks

This splendid Chinese Junk will be here in St Katharine Docks until at least after the Olympics. Hua Shan is the main brains behind this whole venture, bringing the first Chinese vessel up the Thames for many, many years. The boat was shipped from Hong Kong to Tilbury

(costing megabucks), but was apparently delayed in a queue at Suez, so, just missing its pride of place in the Royal Pageant celebrations. He is the father of Alexander Hua Tian, the young Chinese event

equestrian, and husband of British wife Sarah Noble.

Hua Shan has told me that they will be entertaining many of the Chinese Olympics team; with his son's strong links with  horse eventing, who knows who some of the English guests may be?