THE three-year battle over the clearance of Rennie's Mill shows signs of a peaceful ending, with die-hard squatters in the Sai Kung cottage area conceding that radical protests have failed to win better compensation terms.
Sai Kung District Board members promised to relay the residents' decision to opt for a resettlement deal to the Chief Secretary, Anson Chan Fang On-sang, today.
Four board members visited the cottage area and discussed the progress of clearance with about 200 residents yesterday.
Member Lam Win-yin said: 'Many residents want to see an end to the deadlock soon. The condition of their huts is deteriorating and cracks are developing in the walls.' Cracks were found in the walls of more than 70 per cent of the huts, the visiting members said.
'Residents are aware that it is dangerous to live in these huts and many say they are willing to accept the government package and move.
'They want the Government to announce the clearance and rehousing details as soon as possible,' Mr Lam said.