She said the association was working to establish the exact area offered, rental details and how the animals would be contained.

Seven water buffalo were rounded up by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department two weeks ago after locals complained about them frightening people and fouling the beach and streets.

They were captured by officers from the department, who used a tranquiliser gun, and taken to join eight other buffalo also captured in the area that were being held at the animal management centre in Sheung Shui.

The department had given an undertaking that the animals would not be destroyed while the search to find them a suitable home was carried out.

Association chairman Marcus Tancock said while the landowner's generous offer was appreciated, they were still trying to keep the buffalo in Pui O rather than have them housed at Tong Fuk, about 5km away.

He said the association was still hoping the government would offer a suitable piece of land in Pui O. But some Pui O villagers object to buffalo being kept locally, arguing the land should be used for economic development rather than as an animal adoption centre.

Legislative councillor Albert Chan Wai-yip said the negative attitude of the heads of several local villages remained a key obstacle to the setting up of a buffalo centre in Pui O.

'We have appointed several assistants to convince the local representatives to change their position on the land allocation,' Mr Chan said.

In a reply this week to the association's application for land in Pui O, the Lands Department said it could not proceed until the public objections had been resolved.