True to form, the Heung Yee Kuk is attempting to pressure officials by intimating “radical action if the government failed to satisfy their demands” and by placing a double-page advert vowing to bypass Hong Kong courts in an appeal directly to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. The kuk chairman wants a meeting with the Lands Department but this matter is now before the courts, hence inappropriate.
Your report estimates that perhaps 16,000 village houses have been built by developers who have purchased “small-house entitlements” from indigenous villagers. This is a major governance issue and therefore the Lands Department should publish the current ownership status of all the houses built under this controversial policy.
The purpose of the small-house policy was to conserve village life, but it is certain that the vast majority of these homes have been sold on to outsiders. I find it inconceivable that the kuk expects that villagers can sell their homes, and then their sons and grandsons have a right to another new one. These houses were not intended to be used as tradable assets.
There is no doubt that this policy has been sorely abused for money-making by villagers, middlemen and developers.