Hong Kong neighbours fear high-rise development on site of historic century-old villa
Owner wants to construct seven 25-storey blocks and turn villa in Sheung Shui into a clubhouse
Residents of a low-density development in Sheung Shui in the northern New Territories are up in arms over a proposal to build seven high-rise residential towers near their homes, which will see the conversion of a 97-year-old historic villa into a private clubhouse.
Submitting a petition letter to the Town Planning Board on Friday, the Golf Parkview Residents’ Concern Group cited traffic, environmental and safety concerns in opposing the construction of 816 units at the site of Oi Yuen Villa, which has been given a grade 1 historic building assessment, pending confirmation by the Antiquities Advisory Board.
The villa and its surrounding lot are owned by Hui Sai-fun, chairman of Central Development group and son of late shipping magnate Hui Oi-chow. He is also the father-in-law of actress and socialite Michele Reis.
Built before 1919, the single-storey country house is of mixed Tudor and classical architectural styles and was once owned by Jardine Matheson, before it was acquired by the Hui family in 1957. Prominent visitors included colonial governor David Trench, former Executive Council member Chau Tsun-nin and philanthropist Tang Shiu-kin.
