Hong Kong housing protests grow as Labour Party demands seizure of city’s most exclusive golf club

Steven Kwok channels his inner Robin Hood as fight for future of housing in the city highlights divide between rich and poor

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Protesters gather outside Fanling Golf Course to demand the government seize the land for housing. Photo: Handout.

Published: 5:03pm, 29 Apr 2018Updated: 10:15pm, 29 Apr 2018

Protesters were back out in force outside of Hong Kong’s most exclusive golf club on Sunday, demanding the government take back control of the 170-hectare property and build houses on it.

Two days after a Labour Party member was assaulted by a golfer during a protest of just a dozen people, about 50 turned up at the gates of Hong Kong Golf Club.

Joining the political party at the Fanling course were six other groups, including the League of Social Democrats, Land Justice League, and the Concerning Grassroots’ Housing Rights Alliance.

“The rich have a vast golf course, the poor have no place to live,” protesters chanted.

Some 50 people turned out on Sunday morning for the protest outside Hong Kong Golf Club. Photo: Handout.

Inside the golf course, a charity race was being held by the Trailwalker Teaching Room, which was attended by Legislative Council president Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen.

Speaking outside the gate of the club, Labour Party chairman Steven Kwok Wing-kin accused the city’s rich of “occupying” the plot of land.

The private golf club was established in 1889 and has some 2,600 members.

“With a rent of HK$1,000 (US$127) they have rented this 170-hectare plot … but low-income people cannot rent a 10 sq m space with the same money,” Kwok said.

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