HONG KONG: As the Olympic opening ceremony gets under way in Beijing on Friday, many Hong Kong residents will be otherwise occupied — either getting married or giving birth.

Olympic organisers chose August 8 for the opening of the Games because it is seen as a particularly auspicious date, with the word “eight” in Chinese resembling the word for wealth.

Keen to ensure some of the good fortune rubs off on them, many people in the southern Chinese city have booked their marriage ceremonies and even elective caesarian sections for Friday, according to local media.

The Sing Tao Daily newspaper said prospective parents had booked the procedure to give their offspring a lucky birthday, and because they considered the day of the opening ceremony to be special.

“There has already been an Olympic baby boom on the mainland, and in Hong Kong, many parents are also following this trend,” it said.

“According to doctors from the obstetrics and gynaecology unit, some parents have asked to have their babies on this day to make them ‘Olympic babies’.” One private Hong Kong hospital said it was fully booked for elective caesarians on Friday.

But doctor Leung Kwokling expressed concern that parents might inadvertently harm their children by giving birth early for superstitious reasons.

“Sometimes parents don’t understand, so doctors need to explain to them that giving birth three weeks early could harm the baby,” the Chinese-language Sing Tao quoted him as saying.

Friday is also the most popular day in August for Hong Kong couples to get married, according to government figures, which show 127 weddings will be held.

Feng shui master Mak Lingling said August 8, 2008, was a good day for moving, marriages — and opening ceremonies.

“Those getting married on this day will have a wonderful marriage,” she said , saying the only exception was for people born in the year of the dog.

But Mak said being born on Friday would not necessarily confer any advantage.

Babies born on August 8 would, she said, be particularly active and good at sport — but that might not be good for their studies. —AFP