Taoist ceremony seeks to lay Garley's ghosts to rest

Ritual follows freakish accident at the site of 1996 inferno

Taoist monks made a ritual offering last night to pacify the spirits of the 40 people who died in the fire that gutted the Garley Building eight years ago.

The four-hour ceremony at what is now a redevelopment site in Nathan Road, Jordan, was conducted in the wake of a freak accident on June 29, when a fire extinguisher left behind after the 1996 inferno exploded, tearing off the arm of a demolition worker.

The Yau Tsim Mong district Concern for Livelihood Association and the Yuen Yuen Institute, which conducted the ceremony, said the recent accident had caused great anxiety in the neighbourhood.

Association vice-president Chan Siu-tong said: 'We hope to comfort the residents living in this district.' The ceremony also aimed to pacify the spirits of the victims.

The burnt offerings included a paper building with 40 flats. Each of the flats had a paper cupboard, some clothing, daily commodities and jewellery.