First protest since Covid under tight rules

About 80 Tseung Kwan O homeowners protested against reclamation in the first authorized rally in three years and many of them said police orders requiring them to wear number tags and march without masks were "ridiculous."

Closely watched by 50 officers, the protesters yesterday marched along a cordoned-off route from Tiu Keng Leng to Tseung Kwan O South, where they settled for a peaceful assembly that lasted an hour from noon.

"No more reclamation at Tseung Kwan O! No cement factory and waste-handling facilities!" they chanted.

The marchers - mostly homeowners at private estate Metro Town above Tiu Keng Leng MTR Station - were protesting reclamation plans in Area 132 of Tiu Keng Leng that will pave the way for the building of 50,000 homes in Area 137 near Tseung Kwan O landfill.

Authorities have proposed relocating cement plants and waste facilities from Area 137 to 132. They will also build other facilities, including waste and marine refuse collection points there.

Police had restricted the number of demonstrators to no more than 100. All protesters had to wear a number tag and march within the police cordon so no lawbreakers could join in.

A separate zone was set for journalists, who were not allowed in the protest zone. Demonstrators were banned from wearing masks unless they had a medical certificate.

Protester Leung condemned the reclamation plan, adding the cement factory would affect air quality in Tseung Kwan O.

Jason Poon Chuk-hung, the whistleblower who revealed the lack of construction work at Hung Hom Station on the Sha Tin to Central rail link, also joined the protest.

"The amount of solid waste is dropping and the government is also aiming to enhance recycling - meaning the amount of solid waste will further reduce to 30 percent of the current level. Why do we have to build another refuse collection point?" he said.

Some protesters said wearing a number tag was unreasonable and absurd, but they had no choice but to obey the police order. Protester Eric said: "I'm disgusted by the number tag requirement. What does it represent? Why do I have to wear it?"

But marcher Chiu said the tags "were only used to control the number of protesters [which was better than] being banned from expressing our views."

Organizer Cyrus Chan Chin-chun, who is also the convener of Concern Group for Tseung Kwan O People's Livelihood, said it would have been better if more than 80 people joined the march.

"The restrictions were definitely strict, but we had to accept them to hold the march and express residents' demands," Chan said.

Police had warned that protesters must not include politically sensitive and seditious content in their slogans, Chan said, adding they were also told not to wear black or yellow clothes.

The Development Bureau said facilities are necessary to support the daily needs of residents living in eastern Hong Kong.

But authorities will study the possibility of reducing the scale of reclamation and relocating part of the facilities to caverns, ensuring that the facilities will be located at least one kilometer away from the nearest housing estates and "are not obtrusive and will not bring any nuisance to the community."

The bureau added: "We respect the right to freedom of expression. We have reached out to local residents to listen to their views through various channels."

It has held more than 10 consultation sessions with residents, the bureau said.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com.com