Judge grants injunction to keep village road in Clear Water Bay unblocked
Judge grants interim injunction forbidding any blockage of Clear Water Bay road in dispute between residents and clan over barrier charge
Residents of a Clear Water Bay village received some respite from the local clan's demand to charge for road access to their homes, after a court granted an interim injunction to forbid any blockage of the way.
The temporary order is in force until the High Court hears a lawsuit filed by a resident this week to stop four members of the clan from blocking the part of Siu Hang Hau Road that lies on a private lot.
Yau Lai-fong, a resident of Siu Hang Hau village, is suing Raymond Lau Tin-choi, Lau Wai, Lau Sai-kee and Lau Ka-kit for installing a barrier gate across the road and demanding payment for vehicular access.
Yau's lawyer, Gary Lam Chin-ching, asked the court yesterday to issue an interim injunction as the Laus said they needed time to consult lawyers over the lawsuit.
Raymond Lau said his main concern was about maintenance of the road. "If there was an accident, who would be responsible for it?" he asked.
Deputy Judge Mr Justice Nicholas Cooney said it was not a matter to be discussed at this stage and handed down the injunction until both sides were ready for the hearing, for which no date had been fixed yet.
Outside court, Raymond Lau said: "It just feels like everyone can enter your home garden to go on their way." He declined to talk about the case further, saying he had to discuss it with his lawyer.