Residents of a Hong Kong neighborhood outraged by a local Catholic school's plans to erect a 3m high cross have called in feng shui experts to mitigate the effect of the "sword symbol," a media report said yesterday.
Locals living close to the Marymount Primary School have complained that the crucifix, a mock-up of which is currently in place, is reminiscent of a funeral home or cemetery, the South China Morning Post said. They have complained to several government departments, but officials said the cross did not break planning rules.
Resident Vivien Shiu said: "We do not want to bear this cross every time we look out of the window." Another resident, Elsie Kerr said: "It looks like a sword pointing at us."
Sophie Lo added: "It is even worse at night. This cross makes the school look like a haunted house. It is so scary."
Most of the nearby residents have taken feng shui countermeasures such as placing plants, fish bowls or running water decor-ations on window sills. Owners of one building installed two stone lions at the entrance to the building to ward off negative spirits.
School principal Julia Ma has considered the complaints but is going ahead with plans to erect the giant metal cross on the facade of the school.
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