VILLAGERS in Rennie's Mill yesterday vowed to keep celebrating the Double Tenth National Day even if they are kicked out of their Sai Kung cottage area next year. They will hang their Nationalist flags outside the windows of their rented flats on a Tseung Kwan O estate, where they will be rehoused by the Government. The residents said they would also apply to the Housing Authority for a venue to hold celebrations on the estate, although they know it will anger Beijing. Hundreds of residents yesterday gathered at a playground in Rennie's Mill on the eve of the Double Tenth for celebrations which included the traditional flag hoisting ceremony and performance by Taiwanese artists. Wong Kwok-yee, of the organising committee, said the Nationalist flag would be hoisted again next year and in the years ahead. 'It may be our last time celebrating here. But it does not mean our celebrations will end. Whenever the Taiwanese Government is there, we should continue celebrating. 'The problem is how we will celebrate. But I think this is not difficult because we are co-operative and united. No one can stop us,' said Mr Wong. He said most of the villagers would be re-housed in the same block of a housing estate. Communication would be easy because notices could be posted at the entrance to the block. 'We will apply to the Housing Authority for the use of community hall or playground in the estate for celebrations. No one can reject us when we follow the procedure,' he said. The Urban Council previously allowed Taiwan's Chinese Culture Association in Hong Kong to host a variety show in the Culture Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. This angered the Chinese Government, which accused the Hong Kong Government of allowing others to use a government venue and breach the 'One China' principle. But Mr Wong said: 'It is not civilised. I think the Government dares not reject us because we have almost 2,000 people, not 20 that can be ignored. 'We will go ahead with our celebrations even if we are turned down. We are not committing any crime, we just want to celebrate our National Day peacefully.' The residents, who are former Kuomintang supporters in China, fled to Hong Kong in 1949 to avoid the Communist Party. They then settled at Rennie's Mill and started celebrating the Double Tenth annually. But the area will be cleared and redeveloped into modern housing estates. The project was announced about 21/2 years ago but has been held up because of a deadlock in compensation negotiations.
