It’s a common sight around the city’s streets, that of people making offerings for gods or ancestors by lighting fires in tins and throwing in joss paper or ghost money.
Some places, though, are more appropriate than others when it comes to seeking blessings or guidance from the spirit world.
An underground train station is probably not the best location for a fire — ceremonial or otherwise.
This is something staff and firefighters had to convey to an elderly woman at North Point MTR station about lunchtime today.
According to on.cc, commuters passing through the station at around 12pm called MTR staff to one of the exits, where an elderly lady was seen burning gold joss paper, and when asked what she was doing told passers-by “I’m paying my respects to the gods, I’ll leave when I’m done.”
The website reports that MTR staff went to the exit where the woman had started the fire, brought out a fire extinguisher, and put out the fire.
There were reportedly no signs of panic, although one eyewitness, who gave their name as “King” described the incident as ridiculous, saying he couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to burn offerings inside an MTR station.
A police spokesperson confirmed to the website that the incident was reported to them by MTR staff, an initial investigation found no evidence to suggest arson.
The incident, however, breached the MTR’s bylaws, which, although not rules laid down by a higher power, are probably good to follow anyways.
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