A HK$620 million government project announced five years ago to revitalise the old village of Tai O appears to have been suspended.
A cottage showcasing the history of the salt-making industry in the fishing community has been closed to visitors since its refurbishment months ago, as researchers lack funds for its operation.
In addition, government plans in 2007 to rejuvenate the ageing village in Lantau by restoring an abandoned salt field for educational and tourism purposes, converting a public housing block into a youth hostel, and restoring a hand-pulled ferry, are also being neglected.
Liu Tik-sang, a professor of humanities at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said he and his colleagues had refurbished a wooden cottage that used to house the families of four salt workers. They did so to keep alive the memories of a nearly forgotten chapter of Tai O's history.
'We have to keep it locked for the time being because we have no funds to hire anyone to look after it,' Liu said, adding that attempts to secure charity funding had failed.
Liu, who was loaned the cottage by its owner, had reinforced its structure and set up information boards about the salt industry's development. He also brought in a collection of tools used by salt workers.
What is of greater concern to Liu is what the government will do with a plan to restore a disused salt farm for educational and tourism purposes, which is part of the multimillion-dollar project.