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Quinton Chan

Two-storey high symbol is like a sword pointing at us and will bring bad fung shui, residents complain

A plan by a top Catholic school to erect a two-storey cross has enraged residents living opposite in Tai Hang Road, who claim it will bring bad fung shui and affect the value of their homes.

All 19 families at 325-331 Tai Hang Road are strongly opposing the move by Marymount Primary School to display a giant metal cross - which they say is a 'highly charged symbol' - on the facade of its new building. They say it is reminiscent of a funeral home or cemetery and looks like a sword pointing at them.

The school has considered the complaints but is sticking to its design and the project is expected to be completed in the next couple of months.

Most residents have consulted fung shui masters on ways to counter the effects of the cross and have installed  religious decorations inside their flats for 'protection'.

'We do not want to bear this cross every time we look out of the window,' said Vivien Shiu Yin-yu, chairwoman  of the block's Incorporated Owners Committee. 'This huge crucifix will greatly affect our home lives.'

Ms Shiu said the neighbours were worried the sign would bring bad fung shui, affect the value of their properties and strongly reflect sunshine.

'We have held several meetings with the school regarding our complaints. But in the end they still decided to put up such a big metal cross. The school board did not respect our feelings.'

She said they had lodged complaints with the district office and the Lands Department, but the authorities could not do anything because the cross did not breach any rules.

Another resident, Elise Kerr, said they found out about  the plan last year and were horrified when a full-scale paper cross was put up on the wall in March.

'It looks like a sword pointing at us,' she said. 'Most of the residents here are Buddhists and we just want harmony. I have already spent $3,000 to hire a fung shui master and I have put non-reflective tape and a few old Chinese coins on the windows.'

Ms Shiu said all the neighbours had taken countermeasures, such as putting plants, fish bowls or running water decorations by their windows. At Elegant Court, a rental apartment block next door, two stone lions were placed at the front door a few  months ago to ward off negative influences.

School principal Julie Ma said the cross represented the school's Catholic identity and it was the best design among all considered.

'Our architect said we cannot have a bare wall, while reducing the size of the cross will disrupt the overall design of the school building. We listened to their concern and have done what we can,' she said, stressing that the white metal cross would not cause reflections.

But another neighbour, Sophie Lo, asked why a religion 'should be advertised this way'.

'Looking out of the window in the morning, unlike the tranquil feeling that the monastery look of the old school gave us, we will get a feeling of a giant cross related to a modern church, a funeral home or even the entrance to a cemetery. Sure hope that will bring us closer to heaven.

'It is even worse at night. This cross makes the school look like a haunted house. It is so scary. We and our children dare not look out of the windows. It is like a nightmare.'

Veteran fung shui master Peter So Man-fung said the cross 'could be considered as a weapon so it may cause problems from a fung shui point of view'.

It could be countered by putting plants along the road or at the apartments.



Uproar over giant cross for school