The Year of the Monkey hasn't even started and already the hairy creatures are already taking liberties.
In one of their biggest shows of force to date, a band of more than 30 marauding macaques descended on the quiet back streets of Sha Tin yesterday, loitering near a school.
While residents are accustomed to seeing monkeys in the area, which is situated below Amah Rock, the size of this troop was such that they called the police.
Constable Wong Siu-pong, from the Tin Sum police station, said monkey sightings had increased in recent months.
'Since autumn the monkeys are always wandering the hillside ... maybe there is a shortage of food.'
He said the station was averaging three to four reports a month of monkey-related incidents, such as people having food or personal effects stolen. It was not unusual for locals to feed the monkeys, despite advice to the contrary.