Why ‘lucky money’ red packets are unlikely to disappear in Hong Kong, despite rise of electronic lai see
- Hongkongers traditionally hand out lai see – red paper packets filled with ‘lucky money’ – on auspicious occasions like birthdays, weddings and Lunar New Year
- More people are sending their festive gifts and greetings digitally, with e-payment operators and banks reporting greater interest in e-lai see services
Touching an application on his smartphone, student Danny Wong types in an amount of HK$20, and clicks the “confirm” button.
The 25-year-old Hongkonger says he just sent lai see to a friend electronically and wished him a happy Lunar New Year.
Hongkongers hand out lai see – red paper packets filled with “lucky money” – on auspicious occasions like birthdays, weddings and the Lunar New Year, which begins on January 25 this year and lasts two weeks.
The festive red packets are given out by Chinese elsewhere too, and are known as hongbao in mainland China, or ang pow and ang pau in other countries.
Now more Hongkongers are taking to sending their festive gifts and greetings digitally, with e-payment operators and banks reporting greater interest in their e-lai see services.
Many like the ease of sending gifts this way, while others feel it is more environmentally friendly to avoid using paper packets.