Have a peaceful Lunar New Year
HOW will you be celebrating Lunar New Year on the 23rd of this month? ''Some people might not get over the psychological impact created by the Lan Kwai Fong tragedy and might reconsider the idea of going to crowdy places to celebrate the festival,'' said Ms Kitty Wu Kit-ying, a clinical psychologist at Hongkong Psychological Society.
However, many traditional Lunar New Year events and celebrations are mass activities.
According to the Urban Services Department, about 30,000 people are expected to visit the spring festival flower market at Victoria Park on Lunar New Year's Eve.
In addition, the 1993 fireworks display is likely to attract 400,000 spectators on both sides of the Harbour.
Those who will visit China during the festival might also be crammed among the 200,000 travellers at the Lowu border checkpoint on peak days.
So maybe staying home with your family and enjoying a peaceful Lunar New Year is a good idea.
Mr Lin Chun-ming, a 43-year-old father of three, said: ''As a parent, of course you will want your children to spend this traditional Chinese festival with you.
''But I also understand that many teenagers will rather go out and celebrate with their friends.'' Mr Lin said the most important thing that young people should do was to let their parents know where they were planning to go. ''We will be able to tell them whether the place is suitable to go or not.'' According to Mr Makie Mak Chi-kin, an outreach social worker at Hongkong Playground Association, watching movies and gambling were popular activities among teenagers during Lunar New Year.
''It is because they have a long holiday and they get many red packets,'' said Mr Mak.
If you want to have a more meaningful Lunar New Year, you can consider doing voluntary work and sharing the joy and festivity of the holiday by visiting hospitals and homes for the aged.
- STELLA LEE
