Another Neutral Year, but Listen to the People

Lau (right) holding the neutral fortune for number 11

On the second day of the Lunar New Year at Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, a community leader gets the responsibility of drawing the fortune stick from a bamboo cylinder filled with sticks with numbers on them.

That jobs falls on Kenneth Lau Ip-keung, chairman of the powerful Heung Yee Kuk. He inherited the position from his late father, Lau Wong-fat, who was known as "King of the New Territories" for his influence over the area.

But why is it that Lau junior keeps picking the lamest sticks?!

Che Kung Temple was busy with visitors

He again picked a neutral stick, this time number 11. Last year it was number 38, and before that 45 in 2021 and 92 in 2020.

Each bamboo cylinder has 96 sticks, 35 bode well, 17 are ill omened, and 44 are neutral. Lau has to kneel and shake the cylinder at an angle until one stick falls out.

And he has now picked four neutral sticks in a row. Perhaps we should be relieved it wasn't a bad one?

Nevertheless, the stick's fortune reads: "Those powerful should not flaunt their power and prestige. They should work hard on listening to advice."

Lau interpreted this year's prophecy as the authorities should consult the public as they led Hong Kong towards normality after three years of "numerous obstacles" amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Feng shui master Chan Tin-yan said the prophecy meant "some people from the past" would play a crucial role in helping Hong Kong out of its predicament, especially its dwindling economy.

Wonder who Chan is referring to... 

Will Lee heed these words of advice this year?

"The one in power is not always right, they should let go of prejudice and let people from different backgrounds help them, to lift Hong Kong out of the economic downturn," he explained.

Does he mean John Lee Ka-chiu, or Xi Jinping?

"Hong Kong is still in a difficult condition, and top government officials from the past have done a good job in boosting the local economy. Why not ask for their help again?"

We wonder... which government officials did a good job in boosting the economy?!

Chan said the prophecy also warned against "wasting money on unimportant things" and urged the government to put the economy before everything else to lift people out of poverty.

Hmmm we wonder, what "unimportant things" is he referring to?

This soothsayer sounds like a man of the people!

We shall see if the government heeds these words of advice in the Year of the Rabbit...

And can someone else please pick the fortune next year? Lau isn't very good at it!