'Hell money' delivered to police quarters
Police are investigating the delivery of lai see packets containing 'hell money' to 200 flats at the Wong Tai Sin Police Quarters.
A police spokesman said about 20 letters containing 'hell money' lai see packets had been sent to a laboratory for forensic examination.
On Thursday, the fourth day of the lunar year, residents of block A opened letters containing lai see packets to find banknotes, each with a slightly burned corner, issued by 'The Heaven and Hell Bank' and ranging in face value from 1 million 'hell dollars' to 50 million. Hell money is traditionally a sacrificial offering for the dead and usually burned in dedication to ancestors. To receive it as lai see represents bad luck.
The addresses on the letters were printed by computer and no specific officer was named in any of them. Those who opened the letters expected to find advertising inside. When residents found nearly all their neighbours had received the malicious lai see, they reported it to the police.
Some residents said the case could be related to an officer living in the quarters who was having a love affair. The Police Training School, where the same officer was training, also received hell money four months ago.
A police spokesman said the allegation relating to that officer was not true.
Another officer living at the quarters said the officers and families were not intimidated by the act - and they did not want bad luck.
