Day 2 in Hong Kong

We went to Kowloon Park for our first morning lecture. It was an interesting session as the professors shared their knowledge about Chinese migration. I felt that the biggest lesson to be drawn from the lecture was that the meaning of being Chinese is actually a fluid concept. Chinese migrants to different parts of the world may exhibit different cultural characteristics and yet feel that they are equally Chinese. For one, Singaporean Chinese seem to be more devout followers of traditional Chinese customs such as observing the Hungry Ghost Festival etc while Chinese in Mainland China no longer observe such traditions (as a result of the espousing of atheism by the ruling Communist Party).

Another insight is that anyone and everyone can grow to love, appreciate and embrace the Chinese culture. Professor Graham, for instance, feels that he is so Chinese that he should be described as a “hardboiled egg” (white on the outside, yellow on the inside). Perhaps the right to claim to be Chinese is not limited to ethnic Chinese alone.

After lesson was a scrumptious Dim Sum lunch at Hon Po Palace Restaurant. The variety of Dim Sum was much greater than what is available in Singapore as far as I know.





Then I moved over to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to have a look at the monuments that have been installed by the Chinese government marking the handover.



Flag of PRC alongside HK SAR flag together with the Golden Bauhinia, which is a statue of the floral emblem of HK



A monument marking HK's return to HK (the words on the monument were written by Jiang Ze Min, head of CCP at time of handover)

Over the course of the next few days, I would realize there is surprisingly little display of the Chinese government's influence and power to be found in HK. Other than these 2 monuments outside the convention center, I did not see any other indication that the Chinese are in power in HK. And I did not recall seeing the PRC flag at anywhere else in HK except right there outside the center. Government establishments only flew the HK SAR flag.

Perhaps the little physical evidence of Chinese power serves to support the message that Hong Kong is to operate with a high degree of autonomy until 2047, fifty years after the transfer (the so-called '50 years no change' policy undergirded by HK's laws).

The last stop of the day was the very famous Wong Tai Sin Temple.

The story behind the temple goes like this:

The temple is named after Wong Chuping, a shepherd born in year 338 in Zhejiang, China. When Wong Chuping was 15, he began to follow Taoism. Forty years later, he achieved enlightenment and became immortal. People called him Wong Tai Sin from then on. It is said that he punishes evils, heals the wounded, and rescues the dying.

The influence of Wong Tai Sin spread to Hong Kong in the early 20th century. With his mercy and his power, he is said to grant whatever is requested. Wong Tai Sin Temple is known for its fortune-telling. The fortune sticks (or lots) in Wong Tai Sin Temple are very accurate. Many people who visit the temple come to have their fortunes told.


Arch of the temple (which is actually not in front of the temple, but in front of a row of shops leading to the temple)



Devotees with their joss sticks stuck into oranges while they pray,something which I do not observe in temples in Singapore



Facade of temple and devout worshippers

The procedures to seek divination is similar to that in Singapore.
Devotees have to light joss sticks, kneel before the main altar, make a wish, and then shake a bamboo cylinder containing the lots until one falls out. The lot is then exchanged for a piece of paper bearing the same number, and the soothsayer then interprets the fortune on the paper for the worshipper.

--Hui Ping--