A taller plastic wishing tree will be put up in Lam Tsuen this year to attract more tourists.
People used to throw offerings, messages or wishes attached to oranges into the branches of the wishing tree in Lam Tsuen, Tai Po, but the practice was stopped after two people were injured by a falling branch of the Chinese banyan in February 2005. It had been overburdened with offerings.
The government banned the tradition soon after the accident and fenced off the sick, century-old tree.
The tradition was revived this Lunar New Year as a plastic 4.5 metre tree was erected near the old tree, which is about 9 metres tall, to help visitors experience the fun of throwing their wishes.
Tai Po district councillor Chan Cho-leung said the 4.5 metre tree would be replaced by a 7 metre plastic tree in an attempt to bring in more tourists.
He said more than 10,000 people had visited the village on Monday and he expected more would come.
Jochen Weyrauch, a German who visited Lam Tsuen for the first time, said: 'It is interesting. It is different from the tradition in Europe, where we will write down our wish and won't tell anyone, or it won't come true.'