Debris from a fire that razed squatter huts in Kau Wah Keng Old Village last week remained uncleared yesterday as government officials visited the scene and debated who was responsible for the clean-up.
The development came after squatters were told they would not be allowed to rebuild their dwellings.
This meant the 47 families - a total of 130 people - left homeless after Friday's fire would need to move to interim housing as the department had found that none of them were eligible for public housing.
About 30 squatter control and clearance officers from the Lands Department inspected the burned-out sheds in the village in Lai Chi Kok at about 10am.
Indigenous villagers' representative Tsang Chun-fai said he was told by a squatter-control officer that the department might not clear the debris because the squats were on private land.
The department would discuss the issue of land ownership before deciding whether or not to clear the debris, Tsang was told.