Fung Shui is a beautiful, ancient energy system which can be manipulated used for increasing one’s wealth and well-being. It also brings us amusement, considering the many sex scandals involving “masters” and gullible Hong Kong citizens. It’s of course no surprise that the profession of Fung Shui master is considered to be the least trustworthy in this town. However, when the bullshit these people spill directly impacts our safety, we get a little agitated.

Today SCMP reports that the construction of a weather radar which helps pilots land safely at our airport in difficult conditions is to be postponed. Why? Because the location is rejected by angry villagers who claim the radar would affect the area’s Fung Shui. The Doppler radar in Tai Lam Chung is currently the only radar in this town capable of monitoring wind changes near the airport in bad weather. This radar is scheduled for breakdown shortly, yet with the villagers’ objection against the proposed new location we could potentially end up not having a decent bad weather radar until 2015.

SCMP illustrates the importance of the Doppler radar with an example of a pilot who ignored a microburst once, a rapid descent of cool air (detecting these is what this radar does best). The pilot ignoring the warning nearly crashed his plane, as he got to 9 meters from the surface of the sea. So how is it that our government can push a HK$ 69 billion railway down our throats and force hundreds of villagers to relocate, while the construction of a radar that is absolutely VITAL for our safe arrival and departure can be postponed for a few years due to local superstitions?

Food for thought on a Monday. Have a great week folks.