Chung Yeung Festival sees locals honor ancestors amid Chikungunya concerns

Locals paid respects to their ancestors during the Chung Yeung Festival, sweeping graves with offerings in a practice that remains steadfast despite health concerns related to chikungunya fever. 

At Junk Bay Chinese Permanent Cemetery in Tseung Kwan O, many residents arrived early, carrying fresh flowers, fruits, and joss paper to pay their respects. 

Prices for these offerings appeared to be in line with those from the previous year, according to some citizens.

One senior resident, navigating the cemetery with the aid of a walking stick, shared that the journey was both long and tiring. He mentioned spending just a dozen dollars on fruit and incense, highlighting that the significance of the visit lies in the sentiment rather than the cost.

Another elderly citizen noted that he did not pay respects during the Ching Ming Festival and waited for today, spending approximately a thousand dollars on items including roasted meat, fruits, and gold ingot candles, with costs remaining consistent with last year's offerings.

Meanwhile, following the recent report of the first locally acquired chikungunya fever case, some citizens expressed concern about mosquito bites while sweeping graves.

Most of them wore long pants and long-sleeved jackets and brought along mosquito repellent. 

However, some stated that they weren’t particularly worried and didn’t take any precautions against mosquitoes.