In unprecedented move, thousands of Hong Kong villagers spared eviction under new town plan
Preliminary study on northern New Territories shows squatter settlements may be allowed to stay alongside indigenous villages which have for years avoided being caught in the cross hairs of government development
Thousands of Hong Kong villagers who are mostly living in squatter settlements could avoid eviction if their homes in the New Territories become part of a new town proposal under a landmark shift in the approach to planning, the Post has learned.
The plan is part of a new government approach to integrate, respect and preserve urban and rural communities along with their natural landscape in Hong Kong’s last frontier. If fulfilled, squatters could be granted similar privileges to indigenous villagers in terms of how their homes are spared from development.
The move is seen as one that could help minimise opposition towards new town projects, which could pave the way for a smoother process to address the city’s housing crisis.
In a preliminary study looking into developing 720 hectares of land in the northern New Territories, some 43 clusters are planned for “existing settlements”, according to a Post review of the layout.
In Ta Kwu Ling and Ping Che, where most of these clusters are concentrated, the locations match existing non-indigenous villages, most of which are squatter settlements. The villages are classified as non-indigenous because they were established after the New Territories were leased to Britain in 1898.
For years, only recognised indigenous villages were spared from government development as these residents were entitled to be rehoused in the area if they had to move out of existing homes.