In Hong Kong the year of the monkey will be ushered in next Monday by dancing lions. The dances, believed to bring good luck and prosperity, are performed at Chinese new year in shopping malls, hotels, government offices and residential estates.

“Traditional Chinese culture is very strong in Hong Kong and everyone loves to see lion dances,” says Jerry Keung who, with his two brothers, runs Keung’s Dragon and Lion Dance team, one of Hong Kong’s most successful dance troupes.

The finale is choi tsing, “plucking the greens”. The lions rear up to snatch a red envelope containing money, wrapped around lettuce — considered a lucky vegetable because in Cantonese, “lettuce” sounds like “growing wealth”. Accompanied by pounding drums and clashing cymbals, the lion devours the bundle, spits out the lettuce, and claims the cash.