'Fortune Stick Says HK Can't Rush Its Covid Fight'

Rural leader Kenneth Lau on Wednesday said Hong Kong should take it one step at a time, when it comes to fighting Covid - saying a fortune stick he picked for the city cautioned against hasty action.

The Heung Yee Kuk chairman drew a neutral fortune stick for Hong Kong at the Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, as part of the annual tradition that takes place on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Written as a Chinese poem, the omen from stick 38 roughly translates as: "People climb high places in search of fruits, I pick up mustard and ginger from the low ground."

"It's better to offer sacrifice to the god of the stove than to the god of the family shrine. Don't flaunt your abilities if they're limited."

Lau said this prophecy showed that the city could not hurry the fight against Covid.

"Now the pandemic is raging, we have to keep up our efforts [in fighting against Covid] and not aim for overnight success. We can overcome adversity by taking one step at a time," he told reporters.

"The anti-epidemic measures are great, and people are doing a great job [warding off the virus]. And we shall succeed as long as we carry on. We shouldn't rush things."

When asked whether the omen had anything to do with the upcoming Chief Executive election, Lau said it could be signalling that the next Hong Kong leader should be someone down to earth and experienced.