Hong Kong authorities are taking a firm stance against fun at this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, threatening anyone found burning wax or flying sky lanterns with up to 14 days in prison.
The Leisure and Culture department will be deploying around 1,000 officers to patrol parks, barbecue sites and public beaches on Sept. 7 and 8, and have even set up a hotline (2414-5555), so locals can dob on those flouting the rules.
If you’re not familiar with the whole wax burning thing, it’s somewhat of a tradition for Hongkongers to take empty moon cake tins and fill them with boiling wax and burning paper. Water is then poured into the violent flames to create a spectacular sizzling. It is pretty dangerous, to be fair.
According to the Pleasure Grounds Regulation, “no person shall, in any pleasure ground, melt or burn any wax, or sprinkle or pour any liquid onto any hot wax.” That’s one regulation you could only get in China.
Any person found littering will be issued with a fine of HKD1,500 and a fixed penalty notice, while those burning wax or flying lanterns may be fined HKD2,000, prosecuted and face jail time.
You have been warned!
Photo: Pixabay
Reader Interactions