Greens see red as Tai Po village’s dazzling field of yellow rapeseed flowers draws 10,000 visitors a day
Environmentalists question why villagers have planted rapeseed in an ecologically sensitive site
A dazzling field of rapeseed that has drawn in tens of thousands of visitors – half of Hong Kong Disneyland’s daily footfall – is the subject of a feud between local conservationists and villagers who stake a claim to the protected area.
The popular yellow flowers now in bloom in rural enclave Sha Lo Tung have replaced what was once a field of wild plants hosting fireflies and dragonflies in a defiant move made by individuals claiming to be indigenous villagers who have been criticised for compromising Tai Po’s biodiversity.
“This area has high ecological value and we are concerned [that what is being done here] is unsustainable,” said WWF head of biodiversity and regional wetlands Dr Michael Lau Wai-neng, describing how the act of transforming the foliage could harm local flora and fauna.
“This is a designated conservation area according to the government’s plans.” he added.
The scenic spot on a mountainside in the northern New Territories is abandoned farmland, close to rivers and lush vegetation which makes it the perfect breeding ground for insects and plants integral to the area’s ecology.
What damage am I doing? I think we are being very environmentally friendly. We are returning the field to its original state as farmland
More than 70 of Hong Kong’s 107 recorded dragonflies are found in the area. A rare strain of the corona flower is also said to grow in these parts, among other valuable ecological phenomena.
For this reason, the area is protected under Hong Kong laws as a site of special scientific interest, though the villagers claim the act of planting crops in lieu of what they described as “weeds” does not undermine the area which they have pledged to restore to its “former glory”.
“I say we are enhancing the environment, with over 10,000 visitors every day. It is now a fantastic and romantic place for Hongkongers to visit,” said spokesman Roger K.K. Li of the Sha Lo Tung Welfare Association, which claims to represent indigenous villagers.
“What damage am I doing? I think we are being very environmentally friendly. We are returning the field to its original state as farmland,” he said.
Li added that he planned to reap no financial reward from the project, and that in future they might opt for other plants, such as lavender or sunflower, to replace the rapeseed.
Hongkongers visiting the field yesterday morning echoed Li’s sentiment that the revamp had improved the surroundings, expressing delight that Hong Kong had earned another “beautiful” tourist attraction. But one visitor called the flowers a “gimmick”, garnering attention to the plight of the villagers.
Internet users also hit out on a popular Facebook page at the move to transform a piece of land the size of a basketball court into what they describe as an unsustainable tourist attraction.
The Sha Lo Tung Welfare Association claims a 400-year history with the land,which was bought by a developer in the 1970s.
The land was acquired with the promise that it would be developed to include residences for villagers. This is a pledge which the group claims was not honoured. The developer, Sha Lo Tung Development Management, could not be reached for comment.
Leaving the land 40 years ago, the group returned to the site last year, replanting the area they describe as having been “left in ruins” as an act of reclamation.
Critics suspect the labour-
intensive crops will be left to die by the villagers who will be unwilling to provide any concrete long-term plans for their field.
“We don’t have much confidence in their plans to rehabilitate the farmland,” said Roy Ng Hei-man of the Conservancy Association.
Lau explained that while the site was not as aesthetically pleasing in its former condition, its foliage had been precious.
Ng added that there were concerns that the crops might be genetically modified. He urged the government to conduct a survey and verify claims on the part of the villagers’ that the field was “totally organic”.
