Muslims gather at the site of their proposed mosque in Sheung Shui for thanksgiving prayers after securing the $10 million they need to pay the land premium. A last-minute donation of $8.9 million was made by the Qatar Authority for Charitable Activities after the Sunday Morning Post reported the problem. United Muslim Association of Hong Kong chairman Mohamed Ali Din said: 'This is God's will ... everything is in his hands.' He said the mosque and Islamic centre would be built in five years. It will be the first mosque in the New Territories. Organisers will now focus on raising the $100 million needed to build the mosque.
The community was in danger of losing the site and its $1 million deposit if it was unable to pay the balance of the premium.
They had complained of unfair treatment as the Heung Yee Kuk was awarded a larger plot for just $1,000. The prayers were presided over by Saudi Arabian consul-general in Hong Kong Alaudeen Alaskary.