As the rooster crows, a new dawn for Hong Kong
Hope is in the air as city prepares to elect a new leader and celebrate the 20th anniversary of its reunification with China; even the gods of fortune say so
As we usher in the Year of the Rooster, hopes are high that the election of a new leader and the 20th anniversary celebration of Hong Kong’s reunification with mainland China will bring about reconciliation in a city that has for too long been wracked by political, economic and social division. The rooster may not be seen as witty or resourceful as its predecessor, the monkey, in the Chinese zodiac.
To many in Hong Kong, the rooster’s image may even be tarnished by the repeated outbreaks of bird flu over the past two decades. But the animal remains one of the most popular among Chinese people, not least because chicken is a favourite dish during festivals, the Lunar New Year included. It also has strong social and cultural references, as reflected by the rich variety of Cantonese phrases that use the word “chicken”.