Heung Yee Kuk elders clash over jailed Hong Kong villagers
Debate pushes rift among rural power brokers into the spotlight again
The rift in Hong Kong’s powerful rural force was again brought to the fore yesterday as two rural leaders, one of them starting a new political party, sparred over how to help indigenous villagers jailed for a housing scam last year.
Sheung Shui rural chief Bowie Hau Chi-keung expressed dissatisfaction over the Heung Yee Kuk’s handling of case, which involved 11 Sha Tin villagers selling their own land rights under the small-house policy for profit.
The kuk claims such sales have been going on for years, and is helping the villagers prepare an appeal.
The policy, according to the kuk, is enshrined in the Basic Law – which stipulates that traditional rights and interests of the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories should be protected – and is defended zealously by them.
On RTHK’s City Forum Hau criticised kuk vice-chair Daniel Lam Wai-keung’s explanation that legal matters took time to process.
He said: “When New Territories people are in need, we should immediately come forward and help them. We are duty-bound, do you understand [vice] chairman?”
Lam said the relevant lawyers and committees had never stopped working on the case and that “money alone would not solve the issue.” He snubbed Hau for “not being a core member” of discussions.