In December 1989, an extraordinary event unfolded in a quaint Hong Kong restaurant named Chiu-Wing-Kee, marking a rare moment in history where the boundary between the living and the paranormal seemed to blur.
This incident, infamously known as the “ghosts ordering food” case, stands out as the only paranormal activity tacitly recognized by the Hong Kong government, weaving a tale that intertwines the mundane with the mystic in the most unexpected ways.
The beginning of an unearthly tale
Chiu-Wing-Kee was no stranger to bustling days, serving a plethora of daily meals such as fried egg rice, steamed rice rolls, bread, and egg tarts to its patrons. The presence of numerous small villas in the vicinity meant Chiu-Wing-Kee also offered food delivery services, a seemingly routine operation that led to the discovery of something entirely bewildering.
One ordinary day, the restaurant received a takeout order for four, destined for a villa in Xixiu Garden. The delivery, which included large egg rice and beef rice noodles, among other items, proceeded without incident, though peculiarities soon began to emerge.
The delivery man faced a door that would only open slightly, from which money was hurriedly exchanged for the food, leaving him with an eerie feeling.
Unsettling discoveries
The strangeness escalated when the restaurant’s owner, while tallying the day’s earnings, stumbled upon a stack of paper money traditionally offered to the dead.
This grim discovery was brushed off initially as a macabre practical joke. However, the situation grew more disturbing when the same scenario occurred on the following days, with food orders from the same address paid for with eerily identical paper money.
Determined to uncover the truth, the owner took it upon himself to make the delivery on the third day. Despite his efforts to glimpse the mysterious customer, all he encountered was the now-familiar exchange of real money transforming into paper money meant for the dead by evening.
The chilling revelation
Driven by alarm, the owner reported his findings to the police, prompting an immediate investigation at the villa. The police’s discovery was harrowing: four bodies lay within, deceased for days.
This revelation sent shockwaves through the community, particularly as neighbors reported hearing sounds of mahjong — a game deeply embedded in Chinese culture — throughout recent nights, unaware of the tragedy next door.
Bridging science and the supernatural
The forensic analysis added layers to the mystery, revealing fresh food in the stomachs of the deceased that matched the restaurant’s recent deliveries, a phenomenon defying conventional medical explanation. Moreover, fingerprints on the paper money linked directly to two of the victims, deeply entangling the realms of the living and the departed.
Feng Shui interpretation and government acknowledgment
A local feng shui master offered a spiritual explanation, attributing the occurrence to the villa’s unfortunate directional placement and the ominous timing of the victims’ deaths. According to this interpretation, the souls of the deceased remained, adhering to their living routines until the police intervention disrupted the dark energy confining them.
The Hong Kong government’s lack of denial regarding the incident lent it an air of tacit acknowledgment, cementing this case as a singular instance of recognized paranormal activity. Major newspapers and media extensively covered the story, inviting public intrigue and analysis over an incident that blurred the lines between fact and folklore.
Connecting past to present
The Chiu-Wing-Kee incident, despite arising from tragedy, underscores a profound cultural reflection on the interactions between the physical world and that which lies beyond. In modern times, it reminds us of the lingering presence of traditional beliefs in the supernatural within contemporary society.
This story, bridging past and present, invites us to contemplate the mysteries that remain tucked in the edges of our reality, encouraging a dialogue that respects both the seen and unseen elements of our existence.
Translation by Audrey Wang
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