The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court may have reduced the number of steps at one of its entryways and positioned a pair of stone lions at its west gate, but this does not necessarily reflect the influence of fengshui experts, a senior official from the court said.

Li Rujian, director of the court's information office, was responding to reports that the court had sought the advice of fengshui experts for a reconstruction project.

"(The report) is nonsense and a malicious slander to a people's court," he said.

The story said the court "had made a few changes" based on recommendations from fengshui experts. For example, the number of steps at the court's eastern entrance was reduced to 9 from 11, and all the slabs surrounding the stone tablet bearing the court's name were replaced. And the stone lions appeared suddenly at the court's west gate.

"These changes were made in response to advice from a Hong Kong-based fengshui expert. The expert inspected the court before readjusting its layout accordingly," the story said.

"There are three bad influences on the court," the story quoted the fengshui expert as saying. "First, is the 1-m tall chimney on the east side of the court. It looks like a tombstone, so an incantation must be conducted to drive away evil spirits.

"Second, is that yin air to the court's west is very thick, so a pair of stone lions should be posted there to protect the court from misfortune.

"Third, there are 11 steps at the court's east square, which indicates negative influences or bad luck. The number of steps should be reduced to 9, which means prosperity and eternity. The spotted slabs around the court's inscribed stone tablet could bring bad luck and should all be changed," the expert was quoted as saying.

Li's initial reaction to the story was surprise.

"It is impossible," Li said. "The court was remodelled according to its needs."

Li said the court had rebuilt its steps because the old ones were narrow and slippery, resulting in many falls.

"The steps were rebuilt and broadened, so their total number was reduced naturally," he said.

"We re-laid the slab-stones on the east square because the old ones were broken because of subsidence caused by an underground water leak."

And the stone lions? Li said they were placed at the west gate to maintain the design integrity at the court's various buildings.

"We ordered two pairs of stone lions, one pair for the front of the old court office building and another for the west gate of its new building It is completely groundless to say that the lions were placed there to protect the court from evil."

Public opinion about the changes was divided.

Lu Mei, a programmer at a local IT company, was doubtful about the allegations in the story. "I don't believe the reconstruction project followed some fengshui expert's advice," said Lu said. "After all, it is a people's court. It is a solemn law enforcement body and not a house of superstition."

However, Shenzhen resident Li Qing said the allegations were not surprising.

"Many people in Guangdong believe in fengshui, so I would not be surprised if the court sought some professional advice on the reconstruction," Li said.

One local official even went so far as to say the changes could have been illegal because the court did not secure approval from the local civil planning bureau.

"Any outdoor reconstruction should be approved by the civil planning bureau otherwise it is illegal and hence could result in penalties from the civil administration bureau," an official with the Shenzhen civil planning bureau said.

(China Daily May 15, 2007)