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CHEUNG CHI-FAI

Ernest Kao

Immediate destruction looms in three country park enclaves in Sai Kung and Plover Cove if town planners endorse the government's proposed enlargement of small-house development areas, green activists have warned.
One of the enclaves - Hoi Ha, a Sai Kung coastal village bordering a marine park - is home to more varieties of plants and animals than agricultural officials have reported, they say.
The activists pressed their case yesterday to protect the enclaves as public consultation of a draft land-use plan for Hoi Ha was due to end on Wednesday.
"Once the zoning to permit village house construction is confirmed, property developers can remove the vegetation and even fill the site with waste. All these activities are allowed under the zoning," Chu Hoi-dick, of green group Land Justice League, said.
The Planning Department proposes designating a 2.6 hectare site in Hoi Ha for 84 houses, to cater for housing demand in the next decade and boost its population fivefold, from 110 to 590.
Public views collected through the consultation will be passed to the Town Planning Board for consideration.
Chu questioned how the government assessed future demand. He noted that the projections were provided by indigenous villagers who were entitled to the right to build small houses.
The ecological value of the land could have been underestimated by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the activists also said.
Dickson Wong Chi-chun, of the Hong Kong Wildlife Forum, said its volunteers found over 450 species of flora and fauna last month, far more than the 328 recorded by the department.
Nicola Newbery, chairwoman of the Friends of Hoi Ha, said dubious demolition works were being carried out within a proposed conservation area.
The activists said Pak Lap in Sai Kung and So Lo Pun in Plover Cove faced similar development pressures that might see over 300 houses allowed - and private developers had bought most of the available land in the enclaves.
Democratic Party legislator Wu Chi-wai said he was suspicious of most of the land transactions at Hoi Ha, almost all of which took place last year.


Enclaves will be destroyed: activists

Activists warn the sites may be stripped of vegetation.

News

Hong Kong

Greens press their case in fight to save three country park villages from development


Immediate destruction looms in three country park enclaves in Sai Kung and Plover Cove if town planners endorse the government's proposed enlargement of small-house development areas, green activists have warned.
