From the "Truth is stranger than parody" department

Hong Kong (ANTARA News) – Residents of a Hong Kong neighbourhood outraged by a local Catholic school’s plans to erect a 3-metre-high cross have called in feng shui experts to mitigate the effect of the "sword
symbol," a media report said Saturday.

Locals living close to the Marymount Primary School have complained that the crucifix, a mock-up of which is currently in place, is reminiscent of a funeral home or cemetery, the South China Morning Post said. They have complained to several government departments, but officials said the cross did not break planning rules

Resident Vivien Shiu said: "We do not want to bear this cross every time we look out of the window." Another resident, Elsie Kerr said: "It looks like a sword pointing at us." Sophie Lo added: "It is even worse at night. This cross makes the school look like a haunted house. It is so scary."

Most of the nearby residents have taken feng shui countermeasures such as placing plants, fish bowls, coins or running water decorations on window sills. Owners of one building installed two stone lions at the entrance to the building to ward off negative spirits.

School principal Julia Ma has considered the complaints but is going ahead with plans to erect the giant metal cross on the facade of the school.

"Our architect said we cannot have a bare wall, while reducing the size of the cross will disrupt the overall design of the school building," the newspaper quoted her as saying.

"We do not want to bear this cross every time we look out of the window." Makes sense since most of us don’t want to bear the cross at all.