Villagers vow to fight on despite key Legco defeat over country park plan
Lawmakers vote down motion to keep enclave out of park; kuk chief says rule of law 'shaken'
Nature conservationists last night scored what appeared to be a better than expected victory, as lawmakers voted to include a Sai Kung enclave in a surrounding country park. But rural chiefs and their supporters vowed to carry on their fight inside and outside the courts.
A majority of Legco members voted against an amendment to the bill tabled by Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat which would have excluded Tai Long Sai Wan village from a Sai Kung country park.
Lau's amendment was voted down 22 to nine by geographical constituency lawmakers. But it might be even more embarrassing for Lau that the motion was rejected by the functional constituency sector 14 to 13.
The defeat means that the plan to incorporate the 17- hectare enclave into the Sai Kung East Country Park, approved by the chief executive in May, is now passed.
Some lawmakers expressed sympathy for villagers frustrated by officials' perceived inaction in safeguarding their livelihoods.
Some legislators also expressed concern that that there could be even fiercer battles ahead over including enclaves in country parks. Villagers, who gathered en masse outside the legislature building during the debate, vowed to challenge the decision in court.