HONG KONG: The government will not allow Choi Yuen Tsuen residents to resettle in the planned community farm near the original site of the village after the cross-border express rail link is built, said a transport official.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng told lawmakers that some tenants currently live in licensed temporary structures.

She said if authorities allow them to build houses in the proposed community farm, it will go against the government's policy of limiting the number of licensed temporary blocks in the city.

"We do not want to see any hike in the number of licensed temporary structures," she said. "We prefer giving a larger amount of allowances (for their resettlement)."

Cheng was speaking at a Legislative Council's subcommittee meeting on the compensation package for villagers to be displaced by the high-speed railway project.

The 26-kilometer long Hong Kong section of the rail link designed to connect the city with major mainland cities is slated for completion in 2015.

The government has estimated that a ride to Shibi in Guangzhou will take only 48 minutes.

But some of the 160 Shek Kong households to be moved for the building of an emergency rescue station and stabling sidings under the railway project said they feel bitter.

About 150 families affected live in Choi Yuen Tsuen, Cheng said earlier.

The government planned to spend HK$86 million on special ex gratia payments for residents and HK$1.84 billion on the cost for land acquisition.

It also proposed to set up a two-hectare community farm in Shek Kong for public use.

Lawmaker Kam Nai-wai called on the government to set aside more space for the farm, allowing villagers to resettle there when the rail link is erected.

But Cheng said she can only consider building a community hall in the farm for Choi Yuen Tsuen villagers to gather at later on.

While Cheng said that, so far, about 80 percent of some 150 Choi Yuen Tsuen households have registered with the Lands Department for compensation, the validity of the figure was questioned at Friday's meeting.

Fung Yu-chuk, a member of the Choi Yuen Tsuen Concern Group, said its survey found that some 70 percent of villagers insist on staying put.

For those who would like to move to Home Ownership Scheme flats, there may be good news next Monday.

The Housing Authority's subsidised housing committee will hold talks on special arrangements for the villagers to buy flats under the scheme.

Cable TV reported that the authority proposed to set aside about 400 flats early next year for residents to choose from.

A spokeswoman for the authority declined to give details, saying the discussion paper is confidential.

China Daily

(HK Edition 11/14/2009 page1)