Citizens shocked as ‘white’ lion dance costumes used in funerals appear at Night Vibes HK ceremony

Citizens were in shock Thursday night when they saw “white” lion dance costumes used in a performance at the “Night Vibes Hong Kong" launch ceremony, a government campaign to spice up Hong Kong's nightlife.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po officiated a "lighting ceremony" accompanied by a lion dance performance last night. The performers can be seen wearing lion costumes covered in “white.”

Some internet users raised concerns online about using the white lion at the launch event, traditionally used at funerals to pay respect to the dead. Using white lions in the dance can be seen as bidding a final farewell to the ancestors, performed to demonstrate filial piety.

Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun defended the “white” costumes on a radio program on Friday morning, saying that the color of the lion dance is actually fluorescent and not white.

“If you look closely at the photographs from yesterday, you can see neon lights on the heads of the lions,” said Wong, adding that everyone has their own thoughts about the lion dance.

“I will associate the lion dance with good fortune because the lion dance is so lively and colorful… if anyone associates it with anything else, just simply laugh it off,” he said.

Some funeral directors wrote on social media that the white lion is also known as the mourning lion, with most of the costumes covered in white, with the lion appearing to be emaciated and forlorn when dancing.

He also clarified that after learning about the “incident,” he can confirm the lions used yesterday were silver lions, although it is easy to misinterpret them as white lions at night.

Read more: When nights come alive