Rural leader draws 'Neutral' fortune stick for Hong Kong

Kenneth Lau Ip-keung, chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk, visited Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin on Thursday, the second day of the Lunar New Year, where he drew a "neutral" fortune stick for Hong Kong.

Annually, the leader of the rural body participates in a traditional fortune-telling ceremony at the temple, predicting the fate of Hong Kong for the upcoming year.

This year, marking the Year of the Snake, Lau selected stick number 24, which signifies neutral fortune. This continues an eight-year streak of drawing neutral fortunes.

The fortune stick bore a Chinese phrase cautioning against greed, emphasizing the importance of doing good and the right thing, and to avoid adopting a practical approach. Lau highlighted the necessity for community support, backing from the country, and a down-to-earth attitude.

He expressed that there are high expectations for the budget, with hopes for ongoing support for Hong Kong's economic development. He remarked that the fortune stick drawn was particularly fitting for Hong Kong's current situation.

Initially, Lau mentioned that he had drawn stick number 20, but temple staff later corrected him to number 24. He explained that he had difficulty seeing the number clearly at the time, which led to the error.