This Underpass is a Hit to Expel Bad Luck

It's busy these days at this underpass for "villain hitting"

Underneath the Canal Road overpass in Causeway Bay, there are women sitting on low stools next to mini shrines burning candles and incense sticks. They aren't just hanging around -- they offer a service.

Called "villain hitting" (打小人), these women will take a picture or the name of someone you don't like and literally hit it with a shoe before burning joss paper.

It's kind of like the Chinese version of a voodoo doll, and if you believe in it, your troubles could disappear -- for a fee of course.

A woman hits a piece of paper with a shoe

It's particularly busy now because it's jingzhe, the day that marks the beginning of "insects awakening" in the lunar calendar and the belief is that "villain beating" will bring good luck to you by getting rid of evil spirits.

The name of the person causing you trouble is written on a piece of paper and placed on a brick before the women beats it with a shoe. After a good beating, paper tigers are burned and the client is blessed.

When Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor became chief executive in 2017, a number of customers requested her to be hit, but since the national security law was imposed in July 2020, no one dares to request a government official.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, some requested the virus be beaten up in hopes that it would go away.

These days it's so busy at this underpass with locals looking for luck and curious visitors that some residents have created memes that the Hong Kong Tourism Board should be looking into promoting "villain hitting" to get more people interested in coming to the city.

At one time I did seriously consider using this service to get rid of some bad vibes from someone. But eventually this person did go away to the surprise of many of us! Maybe it was me manifesting it all along?