Hong Kong is blessed with environmental features that contribute to the overall positive fung shui of the territory. The Kowloon peninsula, for example, is located at the end of a mountain range, in an area that's known as the eye of the dragon, which allows beneficial chi to congregate. The harbour is surrounded by mountains, allowing buildings to be built with the auspicious configuration of rock (symbolising support and, thereby, health) behind and water (symbolising wealth or potential) in front.
Urban development, however, is a fact of modern life. You could be living next to a park or empty land with lots of greenery and vegetation but the fung shui could be disturbed by the construction of a highway or power station on that plot.
Village residents have long protested such development and often approach the government for compensation when it occurs. Indeed, such behaviour was noted by early-20th-century Christian missionaries, who then tried to discredit fung shui. It was noted that villagers complained about the installation of electrical and telegraph poles near their homes.
Can construction work have a significant effect on the fung shui of an area? The subject will be discussed in next week's column.
