Free 3kg bags of rice will be handed out in September to people over 70 after they receive special vouchers
Tens of thousands of elderly people will receive a 'heavy weight' blessing - 3kg of rice - to celebrate the birthday of Taoist god Wong Tai Sin in September.
Sik Sik Yuen, the foundation which manages the Wong Tai Sin Temple, will give out a bag of 'lucky rice' to any Hong Kong person aged over 70. It has stocked up more than 100,000 rice bags for the event and will obtain more if necessary.
Its vice-chairman, Wong Shun, said lucky rice, which is blessed by Taoist monks at the temple, was more coveted than other gifts of similar monetary value. The temple, a major tourist attraction, is popular with locals for fortune-telling and spiritual blessings.
'It's beyond rice's intrinsic value. Rice from Wong Tai Sin Temple has special meaning to aged people,' he said.
In an attempt to maintain order, the elderly recipients will get a voucher to exchange for rice after they have mailed a copy of their identity cards with a signed form to Sik Sik Yuen's office. Each person will receive one voucher, which can be exchanged for rice from August 30 to September 14.
'We don't want the elderly to spend a whole day lining up in front of the temple. We don't want to turn an act of goodwill into hardship for the elderly,' Mr Wong said.