Hong Kong set for good luck in Year of the Monkey, says fortune stick ritual at Che Kung Temple
City told to embrace “good omens” after year gets off to rocky start with Mong Kok riot
Hours after rioters took over Mong Kok in scenes of chaos not seen in Hong Kong in decades, the city was told to embrace “good omens” in the Year of the Monkey during a Lunar New Year ritual at Che Kung Temple.
Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung drew a lucky stick bearing the number 72 in the annual event in Sha Tin – the first lucky stick drawn by a chairman of the rural body in eight years.
Lau replaced his father and ex-chairman Lau Wong-fat by taking part in the event this year after the ailing 79-year-old stepped down as kuk leader last May.
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“The stick tells us that Hong Kong has to stay united and harmonious,” the younger Lau said. “The government has to work in concert with the public.”
The optimistic message stood in stark contrast to weary sentiments expressed by officials and members of the public on the second day of the Lunar New Year holiday on Tuesday after an overnight riot in Mong Kok left dozens injured.
Despite the city’s rocky start to the year, the coming 12 months will bring luck for Hong Kong, according to the ritual.
“Build up wellness and luck shall follow,” the message corresponding to the stick said.
Temple visitor Mary Ng, 45, said the advice probably meant the government, especially Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, should work to “build up wellness” for the city.
Last year, the elder Lau drew an “average” fortune stick.
READ MORE: 54 nabbed for Mong Kok riot, says Hong Kong police chief, with more arrests to come
Executive Council member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who attended the fortune-telling ceremony for the first time last year, was almost knocked over by a dancer dressed as a unicorn as she entered the temple on Tuesday, but managed to regain her balance.
She entered the venue surrounded by kuk members. Lee Che-kee, of the Sha Tin Rural Committee, said it was arranged for the dancer to make an entrance just ahead of Ip so there would be no trouble for her and other high-profile guests attending.
The kuk’s chairman has been tasked with drawing a lucky stick since 2004, the year in which former Home Affairs Bureau chief Patrick Ho Chi-ping drew number 83 – one of the worst omens possible.
