I suppose that I shouldn’t be surprised, television programmes and films which feature the American version of Halloween are seen here, and after all most of the ghoulish masks, witches’ hats, orange and black ‘pumpkin’ themed paper chains etc  bought in the West are made right here in China. There was always a likelihood it would start being sold here too.

The irony is that the Chinese don’t need to import Halloween, they have their own equivalent, The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.  It is a major Buddhist/Taoist festival where the ghosts of those who died without appropriate burial rites return to the world, and it is celebrated on the 15^th night of the 7^th lunar month.

The exact beliefs vary slightly in different regions of China and the Chinese diaspora, but broadly speaking it is believed that the gates between the world and the afterlife open, and the ‘hungry’ ghosts – who are the spirits of those who died at sea, committed suicide, was executed, suffered a wrongful death or committed sins of greed during their life – emerge and wander around the world seeking food and entertainment or revenge on their enemies.

Dutiful families celebrate the festival with a big feast to remember dead family members, and to pay tribute to these restless spirits so that they will not impinge on their lives and bring misfortune.  In order to keep the hungry ghosts happy, they make offerings of food at temples, burn joss sticks, as well as burning ‘Hell money’ and sometimes elaborate paper models of worldly goods such as television sets or cars, which the ghosts can then use in the afterlife.

Entertainment is provided with troupes of strolling musicians and opera singers who put on outdoor performances of Chinese operas. These ‘wayang’ are enjoyed by one and all, but the first rows of seats must be left empty for the ghosts to use!

Fifteen days after the Feast, the ghosts have to return to the netherworld, and those who live near lakes, rivers or the sea send flotillas of little paper lanterns floating on the water to guide the ghosts back to hell, where they will remain until the following year.

Witches hats, carved pumpkins and trick-or-treat seem rather mundane  I think.

Hong Kong Police meanwhile, had a big, full dress funeral for one of their number who was gunned down in a shoot-out. The hearse of the dead “hero” was flanked by a phalanx of police motorcycles which swept through city streets clearing the way from the Universal Funeral Parlor in Hung Hom to the burial at Gallant Garden.

The official police story of shooting went like this. Bad cop has a gun used five years ago in a police shooting. He decided that he needs another gun and the best way to get it is to hold up two armed, uniformed constables. He stages the hold up in one of Hong Kong’s busiest tourist areas. He times it to coincide with a major anti triad sweep involving hundreds of police only a few streets away. Good cop, the one who benefits from the Police funeral, is killed while his mate is seriously injured. The bad cop is also killed and is therefore conveniently unavailable to give his side of the story. Elected legislators, who are in a minority in the still undemocratic Legislative Council, found the official police story just a little difficult to believe. They want a public inquiry, which the police say really isn’t necessary.

So I went looking for a paper Commission of Inquiry to burn on Ching Ming day. Apart from anything else, the thought of incinerating paper barristers and judges appealed to me. But I couldn’t find a paper Commission on sale anywhere. I can understand that. Once these fires are lit there is no telling where it will end.