|
WHEN it comes to their own children, Singaporeans are willing to splurge. Like St James Power Station chief executive officer Dennis Foo. He gives his only son $188 - "I don't want to spoil him," Mr Foo said - while his acquaintances and their children usually receive $8.
"Eight is an auspicious number which sounds like the Chinese character for "prosper"," Mr Foo added.
"If I give $2 hongbao, people may think I look down on them, that they are worth very little."
Some other parents have been known to be so generous that they stuff cheques into their children's hongbao.
Giving more to one's children is only natural, said National University of Singapore (NUS) Chinese Studies
Associate Professsor Lee Chee Hiang.
He said: "It depends on how close you are to the person, and how much you or your children receive from them.
"If they are closer to you, you would give more."
For children of acquaintances, the amount ranges from $2 to $20, said 20 hongbao givers my paper spoke to. For relatives, hongbao money can go as high as $50, they said.
Still, Prof Lee said that "there's no standard rate for individuals."
Sometimes, whether the recipient is working also plays a part, said promoter Susan Sit, 52.
She said: "If my niece or nephew is already working, I may cut down on the amount I give, since they don't need so much."
However, no matter what the amount, the hongbao sum is always an even number.
Said another NUS Chinese Studies academic, Associate Professor Lee Cher Leng: "Good things come in pairs."
The new minimum sum - $4 - may not be a very lucky sum to give, added Prof Lee Chee Hiang. "It sounds like "death" in Cantonese," he said.
Most of those my paper spoke to said they would not cut down on hongbao amounts.
Inventory manager Brenda Lim, 55, said: "It's just once a year so there's no need to stint."
| 
