Today is Saint Patrick's Day. It is celebrated around the world every year on March 17.
In Hong Kong, and elsewhere, Irish people wear green, the national colour, to honour the anniversary of the death of their patron saint in the fifth century.
Traditionally, children and their parents have parties with special food and drink, which is sometimes coloured green. Often there is also Irish dancing accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland's St Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a celebration over several days featuring concerts, outdoor theatre productions, fireworks and parades.
But the first Saint Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States more than 200 years ago. First soldiers, then Irish immigrants used it to remind themselves of their distant homeland.
Nowadays in Hong Kong, the Irish Society organises a special service at the Catholic Cathedral and members lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Central. There is also a ball held in a grand hotel on the weekend closest to the actual day.
Surprisingly, Patrick originated far from his adopted country - either in Scotland or Wales - and his given name was Maewyn. He lived an unremarkable life until, at the age of 16, he was abducted from his village by Irish bandits. They took him to Ireland where he was sold as a slave and spent six years as a shepherd.