Feng shui (pronouced 'fung shway') is a prevalent belief in Hong Kong that dates back over four thousand years. The term feng shui literally means "wind and water", and it refers to the idea that the surrounding environment affects human harmony and well-being. At the heart of feng shui is Qi (pronounced 'chi'), a natural energy that is carried by wind and held in water. The movement of Qi is dictated by the positioning of buildings and objects. These govern its flow, creating pathways and blockages, consequently affecting the prosperity and success of surrounding areas. Today it is estimated that around ninety per cent of Hong Kong residents believe in the power of feng shui.

Hong Kong's own feng shui reflects its geography. Raymond Lo, a resident feng shui expert and author of "Feng-shui and Destiny", links the mountains to dragons: "Mountain ridges are called dragons' veins and these rise and fall to form landscape on their way to the sea". Locations where the ridges fall into a valley are believed to have concentrated pockets of Qi. According to Lo, "The dragons of Hong Kong have their origins in the Kun Len Range in western China", which extends into the New Territories, allowing the dragon to "dip into Victoria Harbour [and] dive into the sea and rise up again to form Hong Kong Island and Victoria Peak".

When British settlers first arrived in Hong Kong and began building, they ran into opposition when their construction did not correlate with feng shui building techniques and the Hong Kong geography. As a result, architects and contractors now consult feng shui experts to determine a good site for buildings, and many businesses in Hong Kong call in feng shui consultants to ensure good luck, harmony, and prosperity. Consideration is given to a variety of factors including the building's location, the orientation of doors and windows, and the building's exterior. The result has been an urban composition of some of the most unique and interesting buildings in the world.

One of the most prominent examples of feng shui in Central Hong Kong is the HSBC building at 1 Queen's Road Central, designed by Norman Foster. Lo contends that the HSBC building is located on the dragon's lair, "where the energy of the whole mountain concentrates". Therefore, "it is regarded as the heart of Hong Kong, symbolising the place's prosperity". Also according to feng shui principles, a view of water brings prosperity, as water is linked to wealth. The HSBC building remains one of the few buildings in the condensed Central area of Hong Kong with a clear view of Victoria Harbour. Rumour has it that the government has guaranteed HSBC that its harbour view will remain unobstructed. Another interesting aspect of the HSBC building is its ground level area, which allows pedestrians to walk under the building through a large public space. This opening supposedly yields good feng shui, as it allows wind and Qi to travel from the harbour to The Peak through the building.

Central is not the only location of buildings based on feng shui. On the south side of the island, in one of Hong Kong's most expensive and beautiful beachfront areas, sits the famous Repulse Bay 'building with a hole' (109 Repulse Bay Road). In accordance with feng shui principles, the large square hole in the middle of this apartment building was left open to allow wind and Qi to pass between the harbour and the mountain, much like the HSBC building. However, it is believed that the hole is also necessary to allow the dragon which resides in the mountain to have an open view and access to the water.

Feng shui is so prominent throughout Hong Kong buildings that it is even respected by international companies seeking business in the area. After consulting a feng shui expert, officials at Disneyland on Lantau Island decided to shift the angle of the entrance gate by 12 degrees and to curve the walkway leading from the train station to the gate in order to increase prosperity and capture the positive Qi that would have otherwise streamed out to the South China Sea.

However, not all buildings in Hong Kong abide by good feng shui standards. The Bank of China building (1 Garden Road, Central), designed by architect I. M. Pei, instigated a feng shui controversy because of its external appearance. The building's sharp corners were said to cast bad luck inwards upon itself and outwards upon neighbouring buildings, which include HSBC, the Legislative Council, the former Governor's House, and the American Consulate. It is said that the consulate has taken measures to avoid the negative energy radiating from the building by hanging small mirrors to deflect the misfortune.

Numerous businesses throughout Hong Kong have decided to play it safe in building their additions to the Hong Kong skyline. So whenever you strain your neck to admire the skyscrapers, remember that there may be a feng shui story behind every structure.

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