Landlords in court move to reverse plan for two border tunnels
Eight landlords are asking the courts to quash a government decision to build two tunnels for a new border control point in the northeastern New Territories.
Eight landlords are asking the courts to quash a government decision to build two tunnels for a new border control point in the northeastern New Territories.
The construction of the Lung Shan and Cheung Shan tunnels was likely to change the geography of their land and the surroundings, the group said in its application yesterday for a judicial review of the decision.
Running a tunnel near or beneath their land would also affect the fung shui, or geomancy, of the sites, the landlords said.
The tunnels are part of plans to develop a Liantang-Heung Yuen Wai border crossing connecting to Shenzhen East.
"[The project is] likely to involve construction techniques including grouting, by which substantial quantities of cement materials would be injected into the substratum … and will necessarily permanently change the geographical structure of the land," they said in a writ filed with the High Court.
The writ added that the construction, to be carried out at depths of 10 to 40 metres, would also affect groundwater levels.
The landlords said they had raised their concerns during the government's consultation but met with "evasive" replies from the relevant departments.
According to the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the checkpoint will connect with the Shenzhen Eastern Corridor, providing access to areas of Guangdong including Shantou , Shanwei and Chaozhou .
