Family trust seeks return of disputed land in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong
Sheung Shui site is at centre of row between a rural leader and an elderly farmer - and the government may intervene over a fish pond
The family trust that owns a plot of land at the centre of a dispute between a rural strongman and an elderly farmer in Sheung Shui says it wants to take back management and control of the site to avoid further problems.
This came as the Lands Department told the Post last week that it would consider taking re-entry action over an illegal fish pond built on the lot, nearly two years after issuing a warning to the landowners.
The lot was one of two in the spotlight in the village of Ho Sheung Heung earlier this month after rural leader Hau Chi-keung and a property agent were ordered by a court to pay HK$1.41 million in compensation to farmer Lau Oi-kiu, 85, for dumping waste to drive her from the land she claimed she had been working for over half a century.
Speaking to the Post, Jackie Cheung Yuk-shu, of the family trust, said legal tussles after the death of the original trustees had prevented the newly appointed managers from looking after the land properly.
"We didn't have any legal status at the time, but we do now," said Cheung. "For the sake of security, we will take back responsibility and control of the land … We will not stand by idly while the land is misused."
The department said it had issued a warning letter to the lot owner in 2013 to remove the pond in 28 days after the district lands office found that the structure had been built without authorisation.
"Further lease enforcement having regard to prevailing work priorities will be taken, including re-entry action," it said.