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Q Should the bun festival be extended to run all year?

We couldn't believe what we read in your article 'Patrick Ho wants bun scramble held all year to draw tourists'. This is a case of authorities hijacking a cultural tradition, then distorting and 'Disney-fying' it for tourist consumption.

To put this in perspective, let's compare the Cheung Chau bun scramble tradition in its original and its distorted forms, as proposed by the secretary for home affairs and enthusiastically endorsed by the Islands district councillor.

Then: it was an annual event of the Cheung Chau community and part of a greater spiritual festival.

Proposed: it will be a 'sports event' held 'all year round' as a spectacle for tourists.

Then: Cheung Chau villagers climbed a conical structure built of bamboo scaffolding, covered with buns.

Proposed: certified climbers will climb a conical structure built of steel, covered with 'cakes and dolls'.

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