The coming Year of the Monkey is likely to usher in more prosperous times, but Hong Kong people should stay on guard for unexpected calamities, leading local fung shui masters predict.
After a year in which Hong Kong saw hopes of an earlier economic recovery dashed by the war in Iraq and the Sars outbreak, fortune is likely to shine on the city as the Year of the Goat fades into memory.
'The economy will turn for the better, from 2004 and onwards, and will slowly revitalise and run smoothly until 2009,' predicted fung shui master Peter So Man-fung.
'Basically the property market will remain stable, stock markets will be okay and the unemployment rate will fall steadily.
'This will be a true recovery and not a fake one.'
Fellow fung shui master Edwin Ma Lai-wah takes a more cautious view, forecasting that mild recovery will mostly be experienced by larger corporations.
Salary increases could be in the works for some people, but are unlikely to be across the board, he said.