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SCMP Reporter

Peter So Man-fung, also known as Master So, is Hong Kong's hippest feng shui consultant. He hit the headlines in 1999 for predicting his client, singer Faye Wong, would divorce her husband, Dou Wei. Sammi Cheng, Kelly Chan and Michelle Yeoh are among his clients.

Where are you most likely to be at 10pm on a Friday? Working at my office in Jordan.

Where are you most likely to be at 10am on a Sunday? Sleeping at home. I am a night person.

How did you get into this job? I was a hairdresser. Then I went to Tibet and drifted for six months. Soon after I met someone who taught me numerology and palm-reading. I moved into feng shui from there.

To you, what is the most beautiful spot in Hong Kong? Tsim Sha Tsui's waterfront. It's more than just the buildings you can see on Hong Kong Island from there, it's the stories you can imagine behind everyone who lives in them.

What are the ugliest spots? Causeway Bay and Mongkok. It's not just because they are crowded, they lack personality.

What is the best thing about living in Hong Kong? You don't need a lot of money to lead a comfortable life - unless you have a mortgage on your apartment.

What is the worst thing? The property prices. They're high but not rising. And most people cannot afford to buy an apartment.

Name one thing that Hong Kong people should be proud of. Their self-assurance. With some people it goes too far, however, and they think they are experts on a number of subjects. Thankfully, the bad economy seems to have brought them down to Earth a little.

Name one thing Hong Kong people should be ashamed of. Some people here are selfish and don't care about others.

If you could re-write one part of Hong Kong history, which part would it be and why? The election of the first Chief Executive. If I could have changed the outcome I would have ensured Yang Ti-liang won. Tung Chee-hwa has created a lot of fuss but achieved very little.

What has been your most frightening experience? I was once surrounded by some fierce dogs in Tibet. I was so afraid I ran away and left behind a girl who was too scared to move. I wanted to save her but I was too frightened so I asked others to rescue her.

How well are you known? People who read newspapers and magazines know me. My name appears in entertainment, business, news and feature sections. But a lot of people don't know who I am. For example, when I am visiting clients on public-housing estates, some security guards check my identity card.

How superstitious are Hong Kong people? Some are very superstitious. A client told me she wanted to marry but was torn between two men, so she asked me to pick one for her. I told her, 'You have been seeing them for so long you can't make up your mind. How can you ask me to pick your future husband when I have only been talking to you for an hour?'

What makes a good fortune-teller? It is important not to be jealous about other people's achievements. I see a lot of clients and some of them are filthy rich, although sometimes they don't seem very smart. You have to bear in mind that sometimes one's fate has nothing to do with one's ability.

Give us some wisdom ... Don't let any opportunity pass you by.



Peter So Man-fung