'Ching Ming offerings pricier'

People on Thursday headed to cemeteries across Hong Kong to pay respects to their ancestors and tidy their graves in a traditional custom for Ching Ming Festival. There were offerings such as incense, candles and flowers at a cemetery in Diamond Hill. One woman said the price of offerings was similar to last year, but she believes the quality had worsened. “The joss papers used to be a bit thicker and larger… There's nothing we can do about it. It's not about us accepting it, it's about our ancestors accepting it,” she said. Another woman said she had spent about HK$100 on offerings, which is slightly more than last year. “The increase in price doesn’t bother me. It’s only once a year and it's also for the sake of respecting my ancestors,” she said. A nearby joss paper shop owner said it's been harder to place orders and, as a result, prices have gone up by about five percent. But Mr Li said business was still up by 10 percent, when compared with last year. "I think it’s probably because of the economic downturn, people are praying for their ancestors' blessings and hoping for a smooth new year.”