Toronto – A university in Ontario, Canada, received online backlash after ang paos containing fake banknotes were distributed to the students and residents for the Chinese New Year.
“Giving hell money to a living person is a horrible act because you are conveying to the person that ‘you are dead to me’ or worse, ‘I wish you are dead,’” wrote Redditor Historical-Morning18, who posted a photo of the ang pao on the platform.
The photo included a red envelope with two fake banknotes of different numeration.
It was reported that the university in question is the University of Toronto which has over 15,000 students from China, according to its website.
Such a mistake is totally unacceptable, said the original poster.
“Judging by the Grad(uate) House website, they have several Asian-looking staff members on the team and numerous Asian students living in Grad House,” the netizen explained.
“It is very clear that not only none of the students or staff from the Asian cultural community was consulted in preparation for this event, but also none of their staff cared enough to look at the things they put in the red envelopes (it literally says HELL BANK NOTE!).”
The University of Toronto has since apologised for the incident, noting that the incorrect banknotes were unintentionally placed into the ang paos.
“Members of the University of Toronto Graduate House Team prepared a display to celebrate the Lunar New Year,” said a university representative to The Star on Friday (Feb 4).
“Unfortunately, incorrect banknotes were unintentionally placed into the red envelopes.”
The representative said that by the time they saw the mistake, all of the envelopes were already taken.
“The University of Toronto deeply regrets this error,” the university spokesperson added.
It is tradition to give out red envelopes or ang paos filled with real money during the lunar new year to wish the recipient good fortune in the coming year.
On the other hand, hell notes or joss paper are meant to be burnt in offering to deceased ancestors and deities.
When the students opened the red envelopes, they quickly informed the Graduate House staff that it was offensive.
A student also told The Star that it was difficult to find joss paper in Toronto, bringing the question to the motives behind the incident.
Meanwhile, netizens found the mistake to be unacceptable.
“I don’t understand how such ‘mistake’ could be made, even if they don’t know the real Asian currencies, it literally says HELL MONEY NOTE on the top,” commented a Redditor.
Another netizen said, “Is no one gonna mention that if they didn’t want to give real money, they could have just given chocolate loonies? That’s all the effort they needed to put in.”/TISG
Grad House staff gives Asian students HELL MONEY inside the red envelope
byu/Historical-Morning18 inUofT
Read related: No gambling here: S’pore families enjoy getting the scoop during CNY