Scuffles broke out on Saturday during an open-air forum among opponents and supporters of a controversial government plan to develop three new towns in the north-east New Territories.
Despite Secretary for Development Paul Chan Mo-po’s last minute efforts to ease public concerns, the forum soon erupted into angry outburts from protestors opposed to the plan.
Villagers, environmentalists and social activists waved banners and yelled slogans, urging the government to scrap the plan. Some 6000 people were said to have reserved seats at Saturday’s forum, which lasted about 2.5 hours.
Chan said told the forum he thought the plan should still go ahead.
“I hope the public will understand that the land supply in Hong Kong is really limited. As the New Territories is the major source of our land supply, it is inevitable that this land is needed for development.”
“We are aware that there are some people who work in the affected areas and have not received compensation. We are working together with Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to see whether we can offer them some.”