Villager sues small Hong Kong developer in bid to get two houses built as part of land swap deal for ecologically rich area

An indigenous villager is suing a small developer that agreed to protect one of Hong Kong’s most ecologically rich enclaves through an unprecedented land swap with the government, claiming his family was left out of the development plan after 38 years of waiting.

Lee Pak-yan accused Sha Lo Tung Development Company of breach of contract in failing to negotiate any plan to build houses for affected villagers, which he said was part of an agreement in 1979 to turn Sha Lo Tung in Tai Po district into a golf course.

He is now seeking a court order on behalf of his late father for the developer to honour its agreement in its negotiations with the government to include for him two new three-storey houses, equipped with gardens and parking spots, on top of damages and interest.

The Tai Po resident said in a writ filed to the High Court on Friday that his father, Lee Chi-ying, and other villagers of Sha Lo Tung Lei Uk and Sha Lo Tung Cheung Uk had agreed to sell their land and houses to the developer in exchange for 160 newly built homes in a different area.

The terms stipulated that each existing village house would be bought at HK$200,000 ($US25,600), and each new home would be built – at a cost of HK$200,000 paid out of the villagers’ own pocket – with three floors of 700 sq ft, accompanied by a 300 sq ft garden.