On the first day of the Lunar New Year, many locals and tourists flocked to the Tai Po Wishing Tree in Hong Kong to pray for good health, happiness, and prosperity. Despite rain and temperatures near 18°C (64°F), visitors excitedly hung their wish cards on the banyan tree. A traditional practice involves throwing a card attached to an orange-shaped plastic ball onto the tree’s branches. If it catches, the wish is believed to come true. Wilson Chan, a 62-year-old civil servant, said, "Even if it rains, I would still come. As I get older, I wish for my good health." Anthony Chan, 29, tried several times before succeeding. "I wish for everyone good health and every trade in Hong Kong beginning to flourish, as well as a lower unemployment rate," he said. Tourists and foreign helpers joined the crowd. Charlotte Friend, a teacher from England, found the tradition unique. "It is very interesting because it is very different from what we have back home. We don’t have any celebrations like this," she said. Filipino helper Christy Biscarra Bote wished for a kind employer and good health for her family. The Hong Kong Well-wishing Festival, a pop-up market with games, runs nearby until March 3. At the festival's opening, Acting Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Clement Woo Kin-man wished for the country's prosperity and the city's flourishing trades. He said consultations on Hong Kong's first five-year plan would begin after China's "two sessions" in March. Maggie Wong Siu-chu was appointed as the Permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs last week.