Grave sweepers have mixed day in TKO and Chai Wan

People have called for public transport to Junk Bay Chinese Permanent Cemetery to be arranged on a day that saw many forced to hike uphill to the graves of family members on Chung Yeung Festival yesterday.

More than 814,000 people have returned over the weekend - 362,000 on Saturday and 452,000 on Sunday - while outbound numbers hit 881,000, causing the catering sector to worry about business.

The last figure was made up of 466,851 on Saturday and 414,266 on Sunday, with departures for the north hitting 686,000.

Among those appealing for public transport to the Junk Bay cemetery in Tseung Kwan O was a man, who was forced to come alone and so had fewer offerings.

Public transport, he said, would allow children and seniors to take part more easily in the tradition.

Special traffic arrangements were in place at cemeteries across the city, with a full road closure and no bus service or vehicles allowed on roads to Junk Bay cemetery from 5.30 am to 8 pm.

A worker in a nearby florist expected business to beat normal days by 20 percent, with chrysanthemums the favorite.

However, for the owner of a paper offering shop in Sai Ying Pun, Li, business fell 20 to 30 percent, as many had traveled to the mainland now that the border had reopened.

"People could not travel out of Hong Kong last year due to the pandemic, but now more can," she said.

Altar candles and paper clothes remained top sellers, said Li, but mobile phone and iPad offerings were still popular among the young.

Customers said popular offerings to the departed cost more.

One such was Gung, who went to Diamond Hill Columbarium.

"I bought roast pork, candles, paper money and fruits; the price of each was up by a little, and the total price increase amounted to about HK$100."

Officials also held a ceremony in memory of those who lost lives defending Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945.

Present were Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, top officials, representatives of central government organizations, religious leaders and members of veteran groups.

On FaceBook, Lee wrote: " I laid a wreath in honor of those who sacrificed their lives in WWII, and will always remember them."

An escalator that took people to Cape Collinson Crematorium from Chai Wan also proved timely after going operational just before this year's festival, with people able to get to the top in 10 minutes.

A certain Leung said: " Usually we hiked or took buses, but now the escalator saves us half an hour."

Another paying respects was Chan, who said "we used to queue for a long time for buses during Ching Ming or Chung Yeung to go uphill. Now it only takes minutes."