The government has removed a claw-like structure from the Dragon’s Back hiking trail just three days after installing it, admitting that it looked out of place on the scenic mountain.
On a Facebook page run by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), a post on Monday evening clarified that it was behind the mysterious wooden sculpture that appeared on the picturesque route, in Shek O, over the weekend.
The department said the sculpture—made of wood scraps salvaged from trees felled during typhoons—was “experimental in nature,” and has since been removed because it “does not match the natural surroundings.”
Local media reported that a team of AFCD personnel took down the sculpture on Monday morning.
The installation, a three-prong claw about 1.7 meters tall, was first spotted by hikers on Saturday. On social media, users called the sculpture an eyesore that ruined the natural environment.
Some likened it to an oddly static flame, or fung zao, a chicken feet dish served at dim sum. Those who fancy themselves as knowing a thing or two about feng shui said the upward facing claw, believed to be that of a dragon, bodes poorly as it implies that the mythical creature is dead and lying on its back.
In the Facebook post, the AFCD said it understands that the view from the famed hiking trail is the “main attraction” and assured the public that the ominous claw will not be making a comeback.
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