Feng shui master Michael Chiang is on Straight Talk this week.

Chiang offers his Chinese astrology insights for China's and Hong Kong's economy, and everybody else on a personal level. Which zodiac signs will do better? And how to decorate your home to prevent sickness?

Check out the full transcript of TVB’s Straight Talk host Dr Eugene Chan’s interview with Michael Chiang:

Chan: An early Gung Hay Fat Choy to all our viewers on Straight Talk. I'm Eugene Chan, your host. As we are about to celebrate the start of a new lunar year, we'd like to welcome back Feng shui master and architect Michael Chiang.

Chiang: Gung Hay Fat Choy to you …

Chan: Thank you.

Chiang: … and also to the audience.

Chan: Each year, Chiang shares his wisdom and predictions, helping us to navigate the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead. This evening, we delve into the mysteries of the Year of the Snake, uncovering its significance and what it may bring to Hong Kong in this ever-evolving world. Welcome again, Michael!

Chiang: Thank you. Thank you for inviting me.

Chan: Michael, this year is a wood Snake. In many Western countries, snakes have long been associated with evil and temptation. However, in China, Snakes have a more complex and varied symbolism. Can you tell us more about this Snake? What are the key themes or energies of this Lunar New Year?

Chiang: Naturally, the snake is a wood snake. According to the Chinese pantheology, there's a heavenly stem. The first part of the year is wood. The second part of the Year of the Snake is fire. So, wood gives rise to fire. So, this is supposedly, sort of a very coordinated year, and it's a sign of prosperity for agriculture in the past. So, we will have a good harvest this year.

Chan: Last year, we asked you what the Year of the Dragon was going to be, and you said that it was going to be a better year overall compared to the year before.

Chiang: Yes.

Chan: So, how much did Hong Kong do last year? Did it fall within your expectation?

Chiang: I think so. I think they ... definitely, everybody is worried about the property market, and now, although the numbers are down, they are still buying and selling. Okay? So, if you are an owner without any property, this is actually a good year, because the price has dropped a lot, right? And the property buy market has risen so much that young people out of university and working as beginners cannot even afford to buy a house nowadays. Okay, so the drop in price is actually helping them.

Chan: Let's talk about the period of eight calendars that we discussed.

Chiang: Yeah,

Chan: You said the last 20 years was a bad period for Hong Kong, but since 2023 it has been a stable point, and with 2024, the next 10 years are going to be number nine in the Feng shui series. I mean, looking at all the notes we had the last two to few years. So, in the next 20 years, will it be better than what we have committed the past 20 years?

Chiang: Hong Kong has been sheltered from all the turbulence in the world for many, many years. So, Hong Kong people tend to feel great in their own sense. Okay? For example, in the past 40 years, the Middle East has been in a mess caused by the United States, but we don't feel it because we have had few contact with the Middle East in the past. Right now, this time it's coming to touch us.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: And then number nine is a period of revolution, innovation and also fighting. So, it's a period of war. So, there are three choices that Hong Kong can choose. I've been writing this article about this, whether we want to choose revolution or we want to choose renovation, like Shenzhen, or we want to have war. Okay, unluckily, in 2019, we choose revolution. Now we calm down, and it's time to get to innovation. And after these 20 years, our life will be totally changed. We can never expect to see us back as we are now.

Chan: So, it looks like the chief executive in his Policy Address is looking to spend more resources and put more emphasis on innovation and technology. So, we are in the right direction?

Chiang: I mean, we are in the right direction, but we are a little bit late. We have to chase up, because you see Shenzhen, there are now batteries, cars, electric cars, all these kind of telephone, smartphones, and all these technologies that are rising up, okay, as I say, in the past, next 20 years, Shenzhen will be a greater place than Hong Kong.

Chan: Just now you say Hong Kong will be better compared to the last few years…

Chiang:  Yes.

Chan: … stabilized in 2023, things have become better. And you said the property market is sort of stabilised, there's a market, and some of the tours have returned. However, our F&B outlets and also retail stores are still finding it very tough with people moving on to Shenzhen to spend. Is this only a transient period, or is this a new trend?

Chiang: Actually, Hong Kong cannot stay on with the old sort of trade they are doing. We have to innovate and renovate. For example, the retail market has completely changed already. Okay? My wife buys more from Taobao and the mail shop than she goes to the shops. So, this is a new pattern for everybody, so we have to adapt to it. Opening a shop as a showroom to sell things is the past. Okay so that you can see a lot of trends. For example, food delivery, goods delivery, all have been changed. So, if you are doing normal business for 20 years or 30 years, 40 years before now, you have to change, otherwise you cannot survive.

Chan: So, Michael, you're saying that we need to reinvent ourselves. Looks like, I mean, as you said, shops are no longer the trendy thing to do.

Chiang: Yes.

Chan: So, what other industry that Hong Kong has already been changed and doing the right direction that you can see?

Chiang: You're having a smartphone now. Imagine you lost your smartphone one day in China or in Hong Kong. You know the catastrophe that causes us, we have been living in a different life with and without the smartphone for the past 10 years without knowing it. So in the next 20 years, there will be something that will be invented that we haven't seen yet, and it will change our life.

Chan: Let's move back to the area of property that I'm sure many viewers are concerned. Looks like the market has stabilized. And then you said, because it was too expensive before, and now people can start thinking to buy. The stock market hasn't been doing too well either. So, what's your prediction for 2025 or the year of the Snake, what will happen to the property market and the share market?

Chiang: Now, first of all, in the period of nine the property market will be stable, but it will not be as prosperous as the past 20 years. In the past 20 years, what you have to do is to pay a deposit, buy a property, and then wait for three years, and then you earn a million dollars.

Chan: True.

Chiang: No longer the story. The property will be just for function, and then you can get your rental return from the property. And the price will rise because of inflation, not because of such speculations. So, this is one thing, and then the second thing is about the stocks, because Donald Trump has come to the office, and there will be a lot of trade wars between China, the US and the world. So, when Donald Trump sneezes, Hong Kong will be having a big cold, right?

Chan: Right.

Chiang: So, you can expect that the stock market will be running like a roller coaster.

Chan: Right. One last question before we go to the break is about the mainland economy. Many people will know that or feel that the mainland hasn't been doing very well in the last couple of years, especially the last year, but still having a 5 percent GDP growth. It is definitely at a slower pace. What do you anticipate with the mainland economy in the coming Year of the Snake?

Chiang: It's the same as last year. The problem with the number nine economy is that it relies on things that we don't do with the common people. For example, they have shipbuilding, electric cars, railways, heavy metals, you know, heavy industries that employ a few people, but the majority of the people that rely on retail, like Hong Kong suffers. Okay? So, the world is changing. So, a lot of people are losing their jobs because of this.

Chan: So, it will continue like this next year. So, it is not going to be an easy year?

Chiang: Yes, it's going to be one part that is making a ... prosperous, and then another part is suffering. For example, you know that the Chinese shipbuilding has their order full until 2028.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: But nothing to do with Hong Kong, nothing to do …

Chan: I see.

Chiang: … with people in Shanghai and Guangdong.

Chan: Okay, let's take a break now and viewers stay tuned. Our Feng shui master will be right back with some personal advice.

Chan: Thank you, Michael, for giving us your outlook for Hong Kong and the world in the Year of the Snake. Now, how about on a more personal level? You mentioned earlier that it is going to be, we will be affected by the world, we need to reinvent ourselves. But I am sure the only thing we can do is on a personal note, and maybe we can start with the chart that you show us every year.

Chiang: Yes, bringing the Feng shui of the house.

Chan: Yes, show me this direction.

Chiang: Yes. So, this year it is the “sign of sickness” that is coming to the middle of the house.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: In order to … so if you don't do anything about it, you will be getting a lot of a lot of flus, you know, a little small sickness, even if you are very healthy. So, the thing to do is put a yellow carpet in the middle of the house. Usually for a normal Hong Kong apartment, it will be the corridor…

Chan: I see.

Chiang: … leading from the living room into your bedroom. That is the place. You place a carpet, and then underneath you put two copper coins. And then on top of the corridor, you hang a … you know the gourd?

Chan: Right.

Chiang: And it is preferred to be a black-colored one.

Chan: Oh, why is that?

Chiang: But the one you buy normally is natural, but you can use a spray paint to paint it black. And even I know that there are some black-colored ones that is on sale in Taobao.

Chan: Okay.

Chiang: And then on that gourd, you stick two coins also on top on that. Other than that, you buy two Chinese medicine bags, okay? You can go to the Chinese medicine shops and buy any kind of bag. You know, they have this style of herbal tea package.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: You buy two bags and then hang them altogether on the top. That will help you to prevent all the sickness that is going on. And then on … this year, the “year god” is in the southeast side. On the southeast side, all you need to do is to put four bamboos growing, put in a water pot, and then keep them there. That will cast out all the problems, okay? And this southeast side, you have to watch out. Outside your house, whether there is construction work in that direction, okay? If there is really construction work or even foundation work, I think that the only way you can handle that is to move out temporarily, okay?

Chan: Okay.

Chiang: Then on the east side, now east side is what we call the “three bad gods”, okay? So, what you need to do is to put three plants at the window or outside of your house. So, that will solve the problem.

Chan: Outside the house, you mean outside the windows?

Chiang: At the edge of the window or even outside if you have a house.

Chan: Right, okay.

Chiang: And then on the northeast side, what you need to do is to hang a five-tier wind charm. Some people ask me what happens if I don't want a wind charm? Oh, you can use anything that is metal, okay? You can have five bells, but they need to hang up like this, and also keep all the red color away from this area on the next year.

Chan: Okay.

Chiang: And all this starts on Feb 3. This is the time of the Spring Equinox.

Chan: Right, Feb 3.

Chiang: This is, for Feng shui, this is the start of the year, okay? So, it is different from the lunar calendar slightly. And then on the south side, you can put a vase, fill one third with salt, and then put water. And on that, you put six coins and one coin of a different metal. So, together, seven coins. What you are creating is a battery, okay? Brine with two metals. So, just keep the water because they will evaporate, and then the salt will come out on the edge of the bowl, of the vessel. So, keep that and you will be okay. On the north side, what you need to do is to have a black and white carpet put on the north side. And then on the southwest side, you can put a red carpet there. And on the west side, what you need to do is just one bamboo with water. So, if, for example, you have children that are taking exams or something like that, try to place his chair facing west. That will help him in the exam results, okay? And then on the northwest side, now this is a little bit different. You have to put a five-color carpet. So, it includes red, white, yellow, green and black. Now what I show is a five-color carpet. If you can't find this, well actually, you buy a Persian carpet, they usually have the five colors.

Chan: Right, so it can be like mixed colors?

Chiang: Yes, it is going to be a mix. It doesn't have to be striped colors as shown in the diagram?

Chan: Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Chiang: So, Michael, so thank you very much for telling us what we have to put on the chart. Something … some people often ask me, how do you determine where is north, south, east, west of the flat? So, how do we do that?

Chiang: The best way is go to the district land office. They have maps on sale about your area.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: You can measure by the angle, okay? Because the map is on a north, south, east, west grid.

Chan: So, that is the most accurate one?

Chiang: That is the most accurate. And if you don't bother to go there and buy the map, what you need to do is to get a …  you know, this compass from the stationary shops, and then go outside of your house to measure. You don't measure your direction inside your house nowadays.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: Because there are too many magnetic influences and electrical influences. And never use your iPhone compass. Right.

Chan: They are totally inaccurate.

Chiang: Right. So, Michael, you have now told us what we can do to improve our well-being by having …

Chiang: Slightly.

Chan: … all those objects into your house, and I am sure this doesn't replace a proper Feng shui master because I am sure everyone's house may be different.

Chiang: Yes, yes, yes.

Chan: Let's move on to more of the individual zodiac signs. Which animals will have a lucky year this Year of the Snake?

Chiang: The luckiest one is the Rat and the bad ones usually are the Snake and the Pig.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: The Monkey is slightly bad and good together.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: And then the Horse and sheep are fair. And this year, the Dragon and the Dog, they had a bad year last year, so this year, their life is going to be improved much. And then the Rooster is also having a good year.

Chan: Right, you haven't mentioned about the Rabbit.

Chiang: The Rabbit is just fair. So, they are in the middle.

Chan: Right. So, people often use these guides to help them decide what they are going to do.

Chiang: Yes.

Chan: Anything they can improve, just in case they fall into the categories of very bad, or even half and half? What can they do to improve or at least to be less unhappy in the next 12 months?

Chiang: In Feng shui terms, we don't talk about religions because you can, first of all, if you are a Christian, you can go to the church and ask your God to help you. Or you are Buddhist, you go to the Buddhist temple, or you are Taoist, you go to the Taoist temple to make wishes. And one of the things that Feng shui usually tell people is to do good deeds. This is what all the religions are all about. Okay, you can help, you can pay money to help people, you can really do social work, volunteer works, and you know, do all the charities, and that will reduce all the bad luck that comes to you.

Chan: Right. Michael, apart from zodiac signs, we talked about the chart, doing good deeds is important. And how about some other practical tips, like what type of colors, or even numbers, that one can take reference of?

Chiang: This is difficult to talk in the TV show because everybody is different.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: But in general, the number nine and eight are the good numbers. That is why you see all the Chinese are so superstitious on eight and nine.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: So, they are generally okay to apply to everyone in their life. And as to the color, there is one hint. At the moment, there are a lot of pretty women that have good business that cannot find the other half.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: My advice is that don't wear black-colored clothes.

Chan: Right.

Chiang: Because traditionally, black-colored clothes are for widows and widowers. So, all the women, I would suggest you to wear, you know, red and yellow and green, all these kind of colors.

Chan: So, at least more attractive to the…

Chiang: That will help you to attract the other half, okay?

Chan: So, thank you, Feng shui master Michael, for sharing your expertise with our viewers. Just as the Snake sheds its skin to grow, Hong Kong can evolve to renew and strengthen its economy and patience and persistence. May the Year of the Snake bring renewed strength and prosperity to Hong Kong. Gung Hay Fat Choy again and see you next week. Gung Hay Fat Choy!