Falling on May 12th in 2008 and May 2nd in 2009, Buddha’s Birthday is one of Hong Kong’s most low-key celebrations, and despite being a public holiday, shops and restaurants will all be almost universally open.
Buddha’s birthday sees Buddhist monasteries in the territory give there many Buddha statues a bath. A simple, yet reverend process.The best location to see this is the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island, home to a the world's biggest outdoor seated Buddha, apprently. You are free to watch the ceremony, which usually takes place around 12pm, however you can expect fairly large crowds.
Buddhism is currently in decline in Hong Kong. The president of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association, requested that Hong Konger’s not participate in a planned pro-democracy protest on July 1st, 2004. This request was deeply unpopular in Hong Kong, and the annual march continues to attract around a million-plus protesters.Buddha’s Birthday was only made a holiday after the Handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, and the Buddhist Associations continuing close relationship with Beijing has made the populous suspicious of the organization.
