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Letters

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words
Halloween is surely one of the most fun and frivolous of all the annual festivities in Hong Kong. On October 31 every year, Lan Kwai Fong is thronged with party-goers in their spooky get-ups, while children run around, wide-eyed and delighted, trick-or-treating with their friends.
Contrary to the popular belief that Halloween is an American custom, most will be surprised to learn that the origins of Halloween are, in fact, Irish and we have been celebrating it for over 2,000 years.
The ancient Celts called it Samhain (pronounced sow-win) and it was originally celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season and the start of winter. They believed that Samhain was the time of year when the spirit realm was closest to the earthly world, and the souls of the dead would cross to the other side. To blend in with the wandering spirits, the ancients Celts wore masks to disguise themselves and lit large communal fires to ward off evil spirits and ghouls – familiar Halloween practices that continue today all over the world.
Other Halloween traditions that came from Ireland include carving faces into turnips (later pumpkins) as a form of protection, and trick-or-treating, where people would go from door to door in fabric masks, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food.
The endurance of Halloween’s relevance and appeal is a result of the many Irish emigrants who brought the traditions of the harvest celebration to their new homes in America and other countries around the world. These customs and traditions were embraced and developed into the Halloween we know and love today.
So whether you are trick-or-treating with your family today or dressing up for a night out with your friends in LKF, remember that Ireland is the home of Halloween.
Jennifer Bourke, consul general of Ireland to Hong Kong and Macau
Is South Korea a reliable US ally?
Amid international turbulence and the strengthening of relations between China, Russia and North Korea, the United States, Japan and South Korea are attempting to further enhance trilateral cooperation. Thus, during the recent meeting between the US Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea, the countries agreed to continue conducting the trilateral multi-domain exercise Freedom Edge to counter the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
However, it is worth considering whether Seoul is a reliable ally.
Last year, an official at the Korea Defence Intelligence Command (KDIC) was arrested for leaking classified data, including a list of undercover operatives who were carrying out missions in China and Russia.
This came at a time when South Korea was expanding military intelligence sharing with the US and Japan to help guard against North Korea and China. It prompted the KDIC to recall undercover agents back home as many of them had no diplomatic immunity, which left them vulnerable to arrests, threats and blackmail in foreign countries. Earlier, a major leak was reported at the command in 2018.
In addition, South Korean spies seem to be failing abroad. In March 2024, it was reported that a South Korean was detained in Russia on spying charges. In October 2024, it was confirmed that another South Korean was arrested in China for spying. Washington and Tokyo should take a closer look at cooperation with Seoul.
Benjamin Campbell, Alabama, US
British flags should not be used to intimidate
Cliff Buddle is correct in his article, “A national flag should be a symbol of unity not of prejudice and divisiveness” (October 19).
The far right in the United Kingdom, including the populist Reform party, utilise the union jack, often displayed upside down, to confer on themselves alone self-righteous patriotism. When held by a jack-booted thug, the flag becomes threatening. Others even shroud themselves in flags on marches as if they are protecting themselves from “evil outside forces”, i.e. foreigners.
It was, as Buddle described, an excellent trick for Labour to produce hundreds of jolly paper union jacks for delegates to wave at their party conference. It made the use of our national flags to intimidate look rather foolish.
Sally Wilton, Dorset, UK


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Halloween

Did you know? Halloween has Irish origins

A performer in costume beats an illuminated drum covered with water, as part of the street theatre group Macnas’ Halloween parade in Galway, Ireland on October 26. Photo: Reuters


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Halloween revellers celebrate in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong. The city, traditionally at the forefront of Halloween in Asia, should leverage its local culture to make the event bigger than ever, Luisa Tam says. Photo: Nora Tam

Revellers celebrate in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong, during Halloween 2024. Photo: Eugene Lee

Police stand guard at the scene of the deadly Halloween crush in Seoul’s Itaewon neighbourhood in 2022. Photo: AP

People burn offerings on a Hong Kong street during the Hungry Ghost Festival. Photo: Edmond So

People give offerings in Kam Tin in Hong Kong’s New Territories during the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2025. Photo: Karma Lo

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Leasing advertisements compete for attention along a row of shops in Yuen Long on July 2. Photo: Jelly Tse

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Opinion

Readers discuss Halloween traditions that came from Ireland, South Korea as a US ally, and British flags


Readers discuss Halloween traditions that came from Ireland, South Korea as a US ally, and British flags.


.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Readers discuss Halloween traditions that came from Ireland, South Korea as a US ally, and British flags

Readers discuss Halloween traditions that came from Ireland, South Korea as a US ally, and British flags