Sole party under the flyover as devils take a pounding in Causeway Bay

Veteran 'devil-beater' Leung Mei-ngan has mumbled so many curses and incantations that her voice has become hoarse and barely audible, but dozens of worshippers still await their turn for her spiritual-purging performance.

'It's the peak day today. People came even at 3.30am. She hasn't slept for days,' said her assistant yesterday, as she helped her light incense and burn paper offerings.

The 76-year-old was one of 30 practitioners of the ancient art of 'beating the devils' under the flyover of Canal Road West in Causeway Bay yesterday. Business was brisk, as crowds gathered for the annual White Tiger Festival - a ritual in which people take revenge on their enemies by beating paper effigies.

The assistant said Leung had dealt with thousands of customers over the past 10 days. Her right hand thrashed a black shoe against a red brick, beating to pieces white effigies on behalf of her customers.

'Even the shoe was damaged,' said Leung, who has been in the devil-beating business for more than two decades.

Among the worshippers eager to pay Leung HK$50 for the ritual was one woman from Kowloon. 'I arrived here at 7.15am and waited for nearly five hours for my turn,' she said. 'I have patronised Leung every year over the past decade. There were not as many people last year, when I had to wait for only half an hour. Leung was on TV some days ago, maybe that's why there were so many people this year.' The woman said she came only for blessings for her family. 'I don't want to beat anybody. It's too evil.'