Yes, again, another great (although quaint) Chinese tradition will soon die out.

Last Monday was the traditional Chinese grave-sweeping day and was also customary for families to go "hang san" – walking the mountain or hiking. It is a time when families pay their respects to their ancestors by burning incense and paper offerings such as gold ingots, and paper effigies of luxury goods such as limousines, jewellery items, and computers to guarantee the loved ones a prosperous afterlife.

To many non-Chinese this is a bit of a strange custom, which unfortunately, also brings in a season when the natural beauty of our countryside faces great risks of being ruined by hill fires. All because of carelessness while burning paper offerings especially in tinder dry condition during this time of year.

But there is another grave concern regarding grave-sweeping. Because of the scarcity of land in Hong Kong and mainland China (yes, even in China), cremation is fast becoming the preferred choice than proper burial.

China’s late paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, set an example even after death by leading the way, choosing not to keep his body intact. He chose to take his final journey to a crematorium rather than to a cemetery.