RELEASING HUNG MING LANTERN

Hung Ming Lanterns or Sky Lanterns have become popular recently.  In Kuala Lumpur one can buy three of the lanterns for RM10.00. 
According to legend, the Hung Ming Lantern or Sky Light (孔明燈) was the first hot air balloon which was said to be invented by the sage and military strategist Zhuge Liang.  He was also known as Hong Ming.
These lanterns were first deployed at the turn of the 3rd century as a type of signaling balloon in warfare.Another version to the origin of the name for the sky light, may be because of the lantern's resemblance to the hat that Zhuge Liang or Hung Ming was traditionally shown to be wearing.
Nowadays, this lamp is used as a wishing lamp where one writes on the surface of the lantern whatever one desires to obtain or attain before lighting it and setting it alight.

 The Hong Ming lantern carries the wishes of the person releasing it.

WARNING

Sky lanterns are banned in Malaysia as they pose a serious safety risk to aircrafts.  These sky lanterns are carried by the wind and can climb as high as 1,800 metres.  They can be sucked into an aircraft's engines and cause the plane to catch fire and explode in mid-air.  The combustible materials also pose a danger to buildings especially wooden houses.  Thos caught defying the ban could be fined and jailed under Section 285 of the Penal Code and Section 5 of the Explosives Act 1957.  If convicted they can be jailed six months or fined RM2,000 uner the Penal Code or receive a five-year jail term and RM10,000 fine under the explosives act.