During the Chinese New Year period, Hong Kongers traditionally flock to temples to pray for a good year ahead.  However, the superstitious also take part in rituals that they believe foretell the future, or at least the year ahead.

It was no different on the second day into the Year of the Tiger.  Here in Hong Kong is has become customary for a a lawmaker (member of the territory’s legislature) to visit a popular temple to take part in a ritual that will predict the next year for Hong Kong.  The ritual takes place on the second day of Chinese New Year at a suburban temple, and is eagerly awaited by residents and media alike.

The outcome of the ritual, however, does not always bode well for “Asia’s World City” and regional financial hub.  SAPA reports that in 2003, home affairs minister Patrick Ho picked number 83, an unlucky number according to Chinese custom.

His selection was followed by 12 months of crisis in which the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus killed several hundred people and ruined the economy, while unprecedented political protests left the government in turmoil.

This year it was the turn of Hong Kong councillor Lau Wong Fat. 

Hong Kong lawmaker Lau Wong Fat shaking the tin of fortune sticks (Pic: news.yahoo.com/AFP)

And it was good news for all in Hong Kong.  In a closely watched ritual, lawmaker Lau Wong-fat shook a bundle of numbered bamboo fortune sticks until one fell to the ground, number 53, which was later interpreted by a stick-reader to be the harbinger of better times.

The draw was good news for Lau whose unlucky pick of 27 in 2009 – the Year of the Ox – predicted doom and gloom for the city of seven million as it was wracked by the global financial crisis.

All that we can add to that is: Sjoe!  That was close.