Protesters take a swing as park opens

People claiming to be Sheung Shui residents tried to play golf on the Old Course of the Fanling course yesterday as a protest against authorities taking back land for public housing.

That came as part of the course - turned into a pet park and walking trail - opened to the public.

Thirty-two hectares of the 172-hectare land reverted back to government control on Friday, and 9.5 hectares of it will be used for developing around 12,000 public housing flats.

As the land opened to the public from 11am yesterday, around 20 people who said they were indigenous Sheung Shui residents entered closed-off areas in an attempt to play golf.

They claimed the Hong Kong Golf Club has an agreement with 2,000 indigenous residents that they can play on the Old Course.

Some swung golf clubs repeatedly and yelled: "My ancestors have always been playing golf here!"

A Leisure and Cultural Services Department staffer rushed out to try stop them, and the situation turned chaotic for around half an hour before they left. They shouted they would return today.

A Sheung Shui resident said: "Taking back land is not a problem, but the government cannot just open the park to the public. It should also cater to villagers' needs."

Another local resident said the colonial government had an agreement with people when it took the land to build a golf course and allowed them to play golf and exercise at specific time slots.

And a Tai Tau Leng Village resident said he would play golf every day as "it is my right to do so."

Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung said: "I hope the nice golf course can remain a course. There is better land to build parks and buildings."

Others visiting the park had mixed feelings.

Some people found the environment beautiful and supported officials opening a park for the public.

And a pet owner named Chan said the grassy field was "fantastic for dogs to play and run around."

She added that it was inevitable land would be used for public housing development as demand for homes is surging.

Another person said it was necessary to build flats on the land as many people are still living in subdivided flats in city areas.

But some regretted that such a tranquil place will become a public housing estate.

Still, such housing will not be built anytime soon.

The High Court earlier granted leave to the Hong Kong Golf Club for a judicial review against government approval of an environmental impact assessment.

The High Court later also granted an interim stay on building public housing on the course until the judicial review, to start on May 9, is completed.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com