Dozens of Christian groups in Hong Kong have called on the government to end the Hong Kong Tourism Board’s new Halloween Month campaign, arguing that the citywide promotion places public resources behind a festival they associate with death, evil spirits and the supernatural.
The petition, submitted online on Wednesday by the Christian group Yeshua Families Built in Love, showed around 70 signatories, most of whom represented other Christian organisations in the city. It was addressed to lawmakers and government authorities and called for the campaign to be stopped.
The dispute centres on the tourism board’s decision to promote Halloween through activities across Hong Kong throughout October. While the campaign aims to draw visitors and encourage public participation in seasonal events, its critics say the government should reconsider whether a publicly funded tourism agency ought to give the festival such extensive promotion.
In the petition, the organisers described Halloween as a celebration associated with the “worship… of death, evil spirits, curses, and the dark world.” They questioned whether the government should spend public money promoting what they called a Western ghost festival on such a prominent, citywide scale.
“We must solemnly question: Is it worthwhile for the Hong Kong government to use precious public resources to celebrate this western ghost festival, which is associated with the supernatural, bloodshed, and death, in such a high-profile and citywide manner?” the Chinese-language petition said.
Christian groups question use of public funds
The signatories argued that the tourism board’s campaign goes beyond allowing people to observe Halloween privately or attend individual celebrations. Their objection is directed at the government-backed effort to turn the festival into a citywide attraction.
The petition said that presenting Halloween as a major cultural brand could divert attention from Hong Kong’s own cultural traditions. It also argued that the campaign risks sending an unhealthy message to society by giving public prominence to imagery and themes associated with darkness.
“When the Hong Kong government takes the lead in shaping a foreign ghost festival into a city-wide ‘cultural brand,’ it not only blurs the focus on high-quality local culture but also conveys extremely unhealthy and glorifying messages of darkness to society,” the petition added.
The group also raised concerns about the festival’s potential effect on younger generations. Its campaign against the tourism board’s plans is framed around the belief that the government should consider the values communicated by publicly supported celebrations, particularly those involving supernatural themes, frightening costumes and depictions of death.
The petition does not, however, establish that Halloween celebrations cause harm to children or young people. Its objections reflect the religious and cultural position of the signatories.
The campaign has brought a familiar question about public events into focus: how should a government-funded tourism body balance commercial and visitor interests with the different cultural and religious views held by residents?
Tourism board launches first Halloween Month campaign
The Hong Kong Tourism Board introduced its Halloween Month campaign for the first time this year, organising cosplay parties and other activities across the city throughout October.
Halloween falls on October 31, but the tourism board’s programme extends the celebrations across much of the month. The initiative is intended to make the occasion a wider city attraction rather than limit it to activities on the night itself.
Established entertainment venues are also holding their customary seasonal events. Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park are hosting Halloween celebrations, which have become regular features of their entertainment calendars.
The tourism board has also promoted a special offer for visitors wearing Halloween costumes. Those who meet the required spending thresholds can redeem special tram tickets at no charge.
These activities connect Halloween with shopping, entertainment and tourism, giving visitors more opportunities to take part in themed events and encouraging spending at participating businesses. The petition’s signatories, however, object to the scale of the official promotion and the use of public resources to support it.
Their position distinguishes between Halloween activities organised by private businesses and a citywide campaign led by a publicly funded body. For the signatories, government participation gives the festival a level of official endorsement that warrants scrutiny.
The tourism board’s campaign also reflects the broader role seasonal events can play in attracting visitors. Halloween-themed attractions offer entertainment venues and retailers a reason to organise special programmes, while costume events can create additional activity in commercial districts.
The petition does not provide a financial breakdown of the campaign or quantify the public spending involved. Nor does the supplied information detail how the tourism board assessed the initiative’s expected economic returns.
Junius Ho calls for celebrations to be limited to one day
Hong Kong lawmaker Junius Ho, who is a Christian, also criticised the length of the government-backed celebrations. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said Halloween activities supported by the government should be restricted to October 31, the date on which the festival is observed.
“Making it a 14-day, city-wide frenzy would be too much,” Ho said in Cantonese, according to local media.
His comments echo the petition’s objection to extending Halloween into a large-scale event across the city. Rather than calling for all celebrations to disappear, Ho argued that the official programme should be confined to the day itself.
That position leaves room for businesses and entertainment venues to organise their own activities while challenging the decision to promote Halloween over an extended period through a tourism campaign.
The disagreement also shows that opposition is not limited to the petition’s organisers. Ho’s remarks place the issue within a wider discussion about how long public agencies should promote a festival and whether its expansion into a citywide attraction is appropriate.
The information available does not indicate that the government has agreed to shorten the programme or withdraw the campaign.
Halloween’s historical roots extend beyond modern celebrations
Halloween has a history shaped by several traditions. Its origins are commonly linked to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of a new year. The occasion was associated with beliefs about the boundary between the living and the dead.
Christian observances also influenced the festival’s development. All Saints’ Day is marked on November 1, followed by All Souls’ Day on November 2. The evening before All Saints’ Day became known as All Hallows’ Eve, a name that was eventually shortened to Halloween, according to History.com.
Modern Halloween celebrations vary considerably. In many places, children and adults dress in costumes, attend parties, decorate homes and take part in trick-or-treating. Commercial attractions often use horror themes, while other events focus on family entertainment, creative costumes and seasonal activities.
These different forms of observance help explain why Halloween can carry contrasting meanings for different communities. Some view it as a secular opportunity for entertainment and commerce; others object to its supernatural imagery or interpret aspects of the festival through their religious beliefs.
In Hong Kong, the tourism board’s month-long initiative has brought those differences into a public policy debate. The Christian petition challenges not only the festival’s imagery but also the decision by a government-backed organisation to promote it as a citywide cultural attraction.
Authorities yet to respond publicly
Hong Kong Free Press said it had contacted the government for comment. No government response was included in the report, and there was no indication that the tourism board had cancelled or changed its Halloween Month programme.
The petition’s next steps and the authorities’ response will determine whether the objections lead to any change in the campaign. For now, the initiative remains the subject of criticism from Christian groups and a lawmaker who wants government-backed celebrations confined to October 31.
Should Hong Kong’s tourism authorities continue promoting Halloween throughout October, or reconsider the campaign in response to concerns raised by religious groups?