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Tanna Chong

Andrew Brown has never set foot in the office of the San Shek Wan  village where he lives, despite winning elections there three times since 2003.
The 49-year-old Briton was elected for a third time as the second head of the village in South Lantau last month with a one-vote margin. 
Nine registered voters chose him, out of 17 who cast the ballot. The other head is an indigenous villager.
'The indigenous representative [Mo Ngan-fuk]  restricted me from entering the office. It was never opened to the public,' said Brown, an engineer with the MTR Corporation.
'I have got used to it. I work with e-mails and hold meetings for villagers in the public garden or my home.'
That is how he has worked to improve drainage and roadworks with the district office for the village with around 35 regular residents, about half of them expatriates.
Home Affairs officials said they would look into the lockout.  
The Briton arrived in Hong Kong 15 years ago and moved into the village in 1997. He made history by getting elected as the first non-Chinese village representative in 2003, beating his opponent by one vote, 9-8. 
It was the first election after the dual-head system - where the indigenous residents pick one head while all residents select the second head - was adopted. 
In 2007, he got 10 votes, beating another challenger by two votes.
The narrow victories looked like a matter of luck. But the expatriate chief said the challenges - all launched by close relatives of Mo - reflected the split between inhabitants and the non-indigenous residents in the village.
His opponent in 2003 was Mo's son, Mo Kam-tong.  The senior Mo's brother, Mo Tim-hee,  ran in the next two polls.
'Mo Ngan-fuk has never spoken a civil word with me,' Brown said. 'He objects in principle to the existence of a resident representative. But the non-indigenous residents, both Chinese and foreigners, also have opinions in village matters.'
So will he try to speak with the senior Mo? 
'There will never be harmony in this village between him and me. It is just not going to happen,' Brown said. 
'I have something of higher priority to do. My major role is to improve the infrastructure of the village.'
The senior Mo could not be reached for comment, but one of his sons, who declined to reveal his name, said his family would keep running against Brown until it achieved victory.
'Brown and the other gweilos just ignored the rights of indigenous residents,' he said. 'There are many people who hate him, but we simply lacked one vote.'



Expat poll winner's village lockout