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Sammy Heung

In this series of stories to mark five years since Hong Kong recorded its first Covid-19 case on January 22, 2020, the Post looks at how some residents’ lives changed and examines the city’s readiness for the next global pandemic.
Leaping into the air and delivering a powerful strike on the volleyball, Oscar Ko Wing-chun dreamed of turning professional and representing Hong Kong in the sport one day.
That was five years ago, when he was in secondary school. Then the Covid-19 pandemic struck, changing everything.
Today, instead of a vibrant volleyball jersey, Ko, 21, wears a flowing Taoist robe.
Instead of taking centre stage on court, he performs traditional rituals for the dead, including the rite of “breaking hell’s gate”, guiding souls to a better afterlife and offering solace to the living.
The pandemic ended his dream of a career in sports, but opened the door to a new religious life, at a time when thousands died in Hong Kong and there was a shortage of Taoist priests for funerals.
The number of Covid-related deaths in the city hit 13,333 as of January 29, 2023, a day before isolation orders for patients were scrapped.
Ko’s switch from sports to religion might seem dramatic, but to him, events fell into place naturally.

As a budding volleyball player in secondary school, he proved talented enough to join a club competing in the top division of the Hong Kong league.
“I was so happy, thinking I might have a chance to play for the Hong Kong team,” he said.
But the pandemic brought harsh social-distancing measures to the city, leaving sports stadiums shut for extended periods.
“At that time, volleyball courts could be closed at any moment,” he said.
He left school, turned 18 and, as his dream of a career in sports receded, began wondering what to do next.
“I needed a stable job,” he said.
Ko’s family tradition offered the way. His father and late grandfather were not only renowned Cantonese opera percussionists, but also Taoist priests.
From a young age, Ko had learned percussion too, and played in a number of Cantonese opera productions. When his father asked if he was interested in becoming a Taoist priest, he said yes. At 19, he was possibly the city’s youngest priest.

The pandemic ended Oscar Ko’s dream of a career in sports, but opened the door to a new religious life, at a time when thousands died in Hong Kong and there was a shortage of Taoist priests for funerals.
Video: Oscar Ko pic.twitter.com/kv9hvWENVP
— South China Morning Post (@SCMPNews) January 19, 2025

That year, 2023, the fifth and deadliest wave of the pandemic hit Hong Kong with a vengeance, claiming more than 10,000 lives.
With more than 200 deaths each day that March, the city’s funeral industry was overwhelmed and there were not enough Taoist priests.
Ko was soon helping out, before performing the rituals himself. To cope with demand, he became the first in his family to specialise in the rite of “breaking hell’s gate”.
“When someone dies, if they committed mistakes in their lifetime, we need to rescue that person from hell by overcoming a series of obstacles,” he said.
At a funeral parlour, he and four other priests pace around a burning pot of oil while a sixth plays Taoist music. One by one, the priests break nine tiles representing the levels of hell.
“We then hold a flag representing the soul of the dead person and dance with it, to guide the soul out of the sea of suffering,” he said.
Next, he wields a blazing wooden sword to repel demons and evil spirits, before swiftly spitting water into the boiling oil and leaping over the bursting flames.
“We hold the dead person’s spirit tablet and jump over the oil pot, which symbolises bringing the soul out of the sea of suffering,” he said.
Ko said he had only a few months to master the basics before performing the ritual and at first, it was not easy.
“You must overcome it mentally. It is dangerous, especially when you spit water into the oil pot and the flames rise up to your face,” he said.


Since becoming a priest, he has learned by ear to play the dizi and suona, Chinese wind instruments that feature in Taoist rituals.
Ko said his goal was to study more of the Taoist scriptures, perform better at rituals, and learn more from his father.
“My dad’s attitude and passion are really admirable. He has high standards for everything and does not allow any mistakes,” he said.
Ko said his late grandfather and a great-uncle had made significant contributions too, helping to correct the music scores used in Taoist rituals, which had mostly been passed down verbally from generation to generation.
He said that after three years of being a priest, he had come to accept the grief and intense emotions during funerals, especially when people his age, young couples or children died.
He said it had taught him a lot about humanity, life and death, and relationships, giving him a maturity beyond his years.
“I have learned the importance of cherishing the people around you. You need to cherish many things while you are alive,” he said.
“When death comes, no amount of crying will change anything. Treasure what you have.”


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Hong Kong flu season expected to peak in February; 15 deaths confirmed

Covid-19 dashed volleyball dreams but led Hongkonger to become Taoist priest

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

The pandemic ended Oscar Ko’s dream of a career in sports, but opened the door to a new religious life. Photo: Handout

 Oscar Ko says being a Taoist priest has taught him a lot about humanity. Photo: Edmond So

How Hong Kong hospital engineer tackled ‘mission impossible’ on Covid ward

Yuen Pak-leung shares insights on the development of the negative pressure ward he designed. Photo: May Tse

The negative pressure ward has been on display in Kowloon Bay. Photo: May Tse

Yuen Pak-leung says different components of the ward can be stored for future use. Photo: May Tse

A makeshift Covid-19 hospital was set up at AsiaWorld-Expo during the pandemic. Photo: Nora Tam

About 90% of vulnerable Hongkongers received last Covid-19 vaccination more than 12 months ago

The group says it is publishing its findings to coincide with the release of the most recent mRNA vaccine targeting the latest JN.1 variant. Photo: Sam Tsang

Ivan Hung says “there will be high-risk of complications” as the winter influenza season approaches. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong research using sewage to detect Covid-19 could track other diseases

Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee (centre), flanked by researchers (from left to right) Frankie Leung, Zhang Tong, Winnie Mak and Olivia Jung at the Health Bureau’s office in Hong Kong government headquarters. Photo: Sun Yeung

Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee discusses the Health and Medical Research Fund at an interview at Hong Kong government headquarters. Photo: Sun Yeung

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Covid-19 in Hong Kong: 5 years later

Sophia Wang Kai-yan undergoes developmental therapy with a childcare worker as her mother Cecilia Wong looks on. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong authorities closed all playgrounds during the Covid-19 pandemic, including this one in Kai Tak. Photo: Felix Wong

Cecilia Wong with her daughters Sophia and Chloe, who continue to struggle after special care services were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Edmond So

Eunice To has more than 40 types of food allergies which she believes were triggered by the Covid-19 jabs she received. Photo: Edmond So

Eunice To says her eczema had worsened since 2021. Photo: Handout 

Professor Philip Li, chief of rheumatology and clinical immunology at the University of Hong Kong, at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Oscar Ko switched from seeking sports glory to religion, serving others who faced loss and grief


Oscar Ko switched from seeking sports glory to religion, serving others who faced loss and grief.
