Rural leader threatens protest over poultry slaughterhouse
An outspoken rural politician yesterday threatened to mobilise hundreds of Sheung Shui villagers to join protests against the government's plan to build a poultry slaughterhouse.
Brian Kan Ping-chee, one of the heads of Tsung Pak Long village and a former champion horse trainer, criticised the government for having failed to consult residents before unveiling the plan to build the slaughterhouse about 200 metres from his village.
'If the government is bent on going its way and turns a blind eye to our opinions, I may mobilise fellow villagers and other indigenous people in the New Territories to protest against the plan,' said Mr Kan, who is also chairman of the Association of New Territories Indigenous Residents.
'Given my influence among the indigenous people, it's no big deal for me to mobilise hundreds of people to join the protests,' he said, adding he did not rule out protesting outside Government House.
The slaughterhouse, to be built on a site next to the Shek Wu Hui wastewater treatment plant, will cost an estimated $200 million and is expected to start operating as early as 2009.
More than 3,000 people, including about 300 residents in Tsung Pak Long village, live near the proposed site.
Lau Ying-wo, chairman of Sheung Shui Rural Committee and a North District councillor, criticised the government for lacking sincerity in canvassing their views.
He said he was not approached by any official until he met Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow Yat-ngok on Wednesday.
'Dr Chow said the planned site was the best choice because of the availability of the existing transport network,' said Mr Lau, who is also a representative of Tsung Pak Long Village.
'But we are concerned about the possible environmental impact of a slaughterhouse, such as the bad smell.'
He said many Sheung Shui residents were already unhappy about the fact that a slaughterhouse for pigs and a wastewater treatment plant had been set up in the district.
North District Council will discuss the proposed slaughterhouse at its meeting next Thursday.
Daniel Lam Wai-keung, the lawmaker representing the Heung Yee Kuk, which fights for indigenous rights, said Sheung Shui residents were justified in opposing the plan as the government had failed to carry out a broad consultation before announcing the scheme.
Chilled Meat and Poultry Association chairman Kwok Shi-hing said chilled poultry in Hong Kong could hardly compete with imports from the mainland because of higher production costs in the city.
The World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong yesterday urged the government to develop a more detailed set of scientific criteria for determining whether to close the Mai Po reserve.
Officials closed the reserve in early February as a precautionary measure against the spread of bird flu.
