Donating oil poses a fire hazard on earth and will not earn favours in heaven, Wong Tai Sin Temple said yesterday, announcing it would stop accepting gifts of oil from next month.
Last year worshippers donated 38.5 tonnes of oil to light temple lamps. The practice dates to 1921, when Hong Kong's biggest Taoist temple opened.
'Because of the large amount of oil donations from believers, storage is overflowing and poses a fire danger,' the Sik Sik Yuen charitable foundation which runs the temple said.
'We truly believe burning a small [amount of] incense [and] giving a fresh flower, if coupled with good will and true faith, will communicate as effectively with heaven as burning giant incense [sticks] or giving away oil.
'After considering the matter, Sik Sik Yuen has decided to impose a total ban on oil donations from April 1.'
The foundation regularly gives donated oil to other charities, such as those helping the elderly.