Monks claimed victory yesterday in their battle against government plans to turn the area around Po Lin Monastery in Lantau into a tourist haven.
But as they lifted the threat of a week-long blockade of the Big Buddha monument - due to begin yesterday - they warned they were prepared to mount a future protest if officials did not keep their word.
The monastery had planned to close the temple, and with it access to the world's biggest seated bronze Buddha, which is visited by thousands of tourists and pilgrims every week.
The peace deal followed 11th-hour negotiations between senior monks and the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Michael Suen Ming-yeung, on Thursday. The monks now said they felt the government was 'sincere in resolving the problem' and apologised to the public for causing any inconvenience.
Sik Kin Chiu, general secretary of the board of directors at Po Lin Monastery, said: 'We have had a frank and sincere meeting. Mr Suen openly announced that the government would not take away any of the monastery's land and promised to negotiate over other arrangements.
'Although they did not give us a written pledge, we trust the government to honour its word. We reserve the right to take action if it does not live up to its promise.'
Sik Kin Chiu refused to elaborate on what sort of action the monks would take but said: 'Our wisdom would be limited if we had no other means than closing down the temple.'