Weight of expectations proves too much for the 'jinxed' Wishing Tree

As far as bad omens go it probably doesn't get much worse.

The world-famous Wishing Tree near Tai Po - it even has a $2.8 million temple-style toilet to cater for tourists - is said to make dreams come true if you can throw your wish, written on red and gold paper and attached to an orange, into its branches.

Unless someone had written that they hoped the Wishing Tree would fall to the ground, an unfortunate event happened at 3pm in Lam Tsuen yesterday.

Overburdened with oranges and wishes the 8-metre main branch of the tree snapped off, injuring a 62-year-old man and a four-year-old boy.

Astrologer Gladys Mak Ling-ling said the incident was particularly jinxed as it happened in the Lunar New Year period.

'But if we look at it in a positive way, this could mean that something old has gone and new things are about to come,' said Ms Mak, adding that the tree had survived other tribulations in the past, including a fire in 1998.