Year of the Rooster plenty to crow about

THE country's Chinese community wake up to the Year of the Rooster today with permission to crow as loudly as they like about the attractions of their art, culture, food and festivities.

But some members will be keeping quiet as they try to maintain a low profile for fear of alerting the authorities to their questionable legal status.

The "blacked out", as they are called, have usually overstayed their visas or work permits, or have breached some condition of their stay.