Wild times
FUNG SHUI MASTER Alion Yeung Tin-ming was on the cover of Sunday Young Post three months ago. He discussed the Sars outbreak which he had accurately predicted in 2002, and made further forecasts. Hong Kong would face a new a crisis between June 6 and August 8, he said. And destructive wind-related meteorological phenomenon and mass movements were likely.
On July 1, a waterspout - a rare kind of whirlwind occurring over water - was spotted south of Lamma Island. As for the mass movements, the 500,000 people who demonstrated against Article 23 and Tung Chee-hwa's government on July 1 must fit the bill.
On Wednesday, 50,000 people rallied outside the Legislative Council demanding democracy, and two more waterspouts were seen on the same day. But Yeung says these are not the only crises facing Hong Kong people.
'If the government did not defer the second reading of the national security legislation, the gathering on July 9 would definitely have turned into a riot as it was one of the worst days of the year,' says Yeung.
Though the Article 23 crisis has calmed down a bit, the SAR government is now facing a major crisis. Yeung predicts the chief executive is likely to step down by the end of this year for health reasons, and his cabinet will undergo some kind of reform.
'Until August 8, the government will still be in dramatic trouble. It's likely that some top officials will leave or change the nature of their job, such as justice secretary Elsie Leung Oi-sie and security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee who will no longer be in charge of the national security bill issue,' he says.
After August 8, things in Hong Kong will slow down, but Hong Kong people should still be careful, as their problems are not over yet.
The period between October 9 and November 8 will be another critical moment for Hong Kong.
There will be outrageous fluctuations in the stock market, says Yeung, adding that the Hang Seng Index will rise rapidly followed by a surprising collapse.
'No matter how high the index goes up, do not purchase anything before November 8,' he warns.
He adds that after November 8, despite the less virulent return of Sars in December, Hong Kong will start to recover, as will Tung.
'But by the time his luck resumes, he will no longer be ruling Hong Kong,' says Yeung.
WHAT DO THE CARDS SAY?
TAROT READER: Lorraine Wo Sau-ming
PREDICTION: The economy won't recover until the end of 2003, and Sars will come back.
SARS?!: Don't worry it won't be as bad as before; there will only be about 10 cases.
WHAT ABOUT TUNG?: He will be still be our chief executive at the end of the year. And Beijing will still support him.
AND THE REST?: His whole cabinet will stay - even security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.
TAROT READER: Kelvin Ho Chi-kin.
PREDICTION: Hong Kong will be at its worst in November.
WHY?: Another deadly disease.
HO SAYS: 'It will be less contagious than Sars, but it will be able to kill a person within seven days. There will be no cure.'
ANYTHING ELSE?: Yes. Ho also predicts that unemployment will rise to 8.5 per cent. He advises people not to buy stocks and not to change jobs.
WHAT ABOUT TUNG?: He will stay - and so will financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung and justice secretary Elsie Leung Oi-sie.
