March 1998

Horoscopes on the airwaves

Prince of Horoscopes is master of own fate

By Aries Poon

He loves astrology.

He does not like working.

He loves travelling around.

He does not care about money.

He is the “Prince of Horoscopes”.

And he hosts an increasingly popular phone-in radio show on astrology every Thursday night on Radio Television Hong Kong’s Radio 1.

Unwilling to reveal his real name, the identity of Prince of Horoscopes is as mysterious as astrology. He was graduated in communication from “one of the tertiary institutions in Hong Kong”, according to him, declining to reveal more of his background.

His interest and knowledge in astrology are closely associated with his family.

“Fortune should not be narrowly defined,” says the Prince of Horoscopes.
Felicity is the most important thing.

“My father is an astrology lover. He has many books and information about this at home. When I was young, I liked to read them. I was very curious. As time goes by, I know more and more about astrology and horoscopes.”

However, his interest in astrology appears to be stronger than an amateur’s.

He buys a few books on astrology wherever he goes. He likes to surf on the Internet, searching for more up-to-date information.

Last year, he went to the United States and spent a week with a Gypsy woman to learn more about astrology.

“I’ve got a more concrete concept and deeper knowledge of astrology since then,” he said. “I found myself improved.”

Though regarded as an expert in astrology, he does not deny that astrology or fortune-telling activities are somewhat superstitious.

“But my programme focuses on the personality aspects of astrology,” said he. “The main theme is to help our audience to know more about themselves through astrology.

“Everyone has his or her own weaknesses. If we can recognize our weaknesses, and know how to deal with them, at least we will be more alert when they come up next time.”

When he first entered a broadcasting studio, he was attracted by the interaction with the audience over the air. It was different from game shows or night-time pillow talk programs.

“Through the audience, I can look at myself from another perspective, and it is very enlightening.”

The audience has called him kind of “ugly and disgusting man of Pisces”. Asked whether he was embarrassed, he said, “I do not think they mean to belittle me. My friends treat me in the same way. To me, it is fine.”

He thinks the public may have oversimplified astrology. “It is not used just to look up your fortune in the newspapers or magazines. It is not that simple.

“There is too little information about astrology in Hong Kong,” he said. “I want to let them know more.”

He views himself as a “liberal employee”, or a freelance worker. It is “liberal” in the sense that he does not stick to one particular job for long.

His wider career lies in creative work like advertising, the music industry, play writing and television, which can provide him a great variety of changes and inspirations.

When asked what would be his ideal lifestyle, he said, “Not to work, just to play.

“I may feel very satisfied after watching a Japanese TV drama, challenging the top score of a TV game, playing with computers or shopping.”

In fact, he does not care about money most of the time.

He said, “I am quite lucky. I do not need to pay for an apartment and support my parents.” For these reasons, he can manage to do whatever he wants, without consideration for the financial consequences.

To him, felicity is the most valuable thing. “Felicity is in our hands,” said he, “and it is we who create it.

“Everyone has a different standard of what is the most felicitous thing in his or her life. When we know what we want most, we need to go ahead for it.

“The 9-to-5 lifestyle is not suitable for me. I know what I want. I decide my own fate.”