Land resumption in Hengzhou｜The villagers have no choice but to move out of the land administration after taking care of their belongings: they can return within 7 days but are not allowed to stay overnight

Burst

Written by: Lu Jiayu Cai Zhengbang Deng Boliang

2021-04-28 20:35

Last update date: 2021-04-28 20:36

The Yuen Long Wang Chau development plan has been controversial. Since July last year, it has reached the dead line of land resumption. Repeated land resumption actions have triggered confrontation and protests among villagers.

Today, Lands Department personnel went to Hengzhou to resume land again. Over a hundred security and police officers stationed at the entrance of the village to surround the remaining villagers in Yongning Village, Fengchi Village and Yangwu New House. Some villagers once failed to negotiate and wept bitterly.

In the end, the land administration decided to allow the residents to return to pick up their belongings at a designated time within 7 days, but they were not allowed to stay overnight. In the afternoon, the villagers gathered their belongings and left. Some villagers lamented that they would be homeless tonight.

Today, land administration officers went to Heng Chau again to start land resumption. Over a hundred security and police officers stationed at the entrance of the village.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

At 8 o'clock this morning, land officials wearing white helmets and more than 100 security guards entered Hengzhou to reclaim land. A large number of uniformed police officers and plainclothes police officers arrived to support the scene.

The land officials first led a team to surround the home of the left-behind villager Ouyang Tai. During the negotiations with Ouyang Tai, another group of land officials and dozens of security guards equipped with iron scissors, detoured to the fence behind Ouyang's home, cut off the water and electricity of his unit and cut the barbed wire. Inside.

The security guards formed a human chain to surround Ouyang Tai, who was at the front entrance, and a number of land officials and plainclothes police officers followed in to take pictures.

Ouyang pleaded for grace in tears. He once proposed that the grace period of 3 months and 14 was rejected. In the end, the land officials pointed out that Ouyang’s family could go home within 7 days to pick up items, but not overnight, and promised to install headlights to prevent theft.

In the afternoon, Ouyang was too busy with the supplies and household belongings in the house, saying that he would stay at a friend's house temporarily in the next few days.

In the afternoon, Ouyang was too busy with the supplies and household belongings in the house, saying that he would stay at a friend's house temporarily in the next few days.

(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)

Another male villager, Mr. Wen, said that at present he only has his ID card and other documents, including furniture, daily necessities and cash, which are still in the house. He told the on-site land officials today that he hoped to enter the house to pick up the house, but the other party did not respond. He also pointed out that the books of the two sons are also in the work unit. "Now, if you return to school, you can go out. If you leave the school, you can't return to the house."

Mr. Wen said that he has lived in the village for more than 35 years. Earlier he met with the Housing Department and the Housing Department to discuss resettlement arrangements. The only news was that he received a call on the 20th of this month stating that he had been allocated public housing units in Tin Chak Village. He said that he can visit the unit in the middle of next month, but because the location is far away from his son’s school, he has decided to abandon the public housing. Therefore, there is no place to live after the land is repossessed today. Said that he planned to join other villagers to petition outside the Legislative Council.

Land resumption in Hengzhou｜Lands of nearly 350 police officers came to guard, close the village and intercept and investigate the land resumption in the village

Land Resumption in Hengzhou｜Land Administration and more than 100 security police officers enter the village to retake land and villagers cry for a 7-day grace period

District Councillor: Lands Administration delays granting subsidies and re-cultivation licenses

District Councillor Ou Guoquan, who was present to assist, said that among the four remaining villagers, two were granted ex-gratia allowance compensation and agricultural re-cultivation licenses due to delays in land administration. One of the villagers, Mr. Chen, was a landlord and had already applied for a re-cultivation license. I hope to buy land for re-cultivation and build a house, but Mr. Chen only obtained a re-cultivation license this week, so it still takes time to build and relocate the house.

Ouyang Tai, another villager, received an ex-gratia allowance on the 7th of this month and has purchased a 700-foot small house. Therefore, they hope that the land administration can give them time to manage.

Qu Guoquan also pointed out that the villagers originally hoped to stay overnight in the unit within 7 days, but the land administration disagreed and the electricity was cut off. Finally, the villagers expressed concern about security issues after leaving the unit and requested the department to install lights for the unit. Prevent burglary.

District Councillor Ou Guoquan said that two of the villagers have been unable to move out due to delays in granting ex-gratia allowance compensation and agricultural re-cultivation licenses.

(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)

Lands Department: Grace has been granted many times and no more grace period can be given

A spokesperson for the Lands Department pointed out that the department has given relevant households several graces in the past, urging them to move out as soon as possible, and extend the final grace period to this year’s Lunar New Year, during which they will maintain close communication with residents and provide appropriate assistance as far as practicable. , Such as referral to the Social Welfare Department for follow-up, assistance in exploring feasible solutions to the client’s housing needs, and consideration of recommending compassionate rehousing for cases with special or medical needs.

While the government takes care of households affected by development clearance, it must also ensure that public resources are used in a reasonable and fair manner. Therefore, it is impossible to give households a grace period to move out.

The Department and relevant departments will provide appropriate assistance after residents move out, such as arranging residents to enter the construction site as soon as possible to retrieve their personal belongings. If the affected persons who are not eligible for resettlement have no place to shelter, the temporary shelter of the Housing Department can Allow them to stay for a short period of about 3 months. If they are verified as "homeless" and meet other relevant qualifications, they can apply to live in a transit house in the New Territories.

The spokesman also pointed out that most of the eligible households within the current Hengzhou public housing plan clearance area have received rehousing and/or ex-gratia allowances in the same area and have moved out.

The remaining approximately 30 households, mainly including those who moved into the structure before the demolition registration date, are not eligible for resettlement or apply for ex-gratia compensation; some people live in illegal structures, so they are not eligible for resettlement, but they can still be eligible for resettlement. Relocation allowance. In addition, a few households who have been resettled or approved for ex-gratia allowance have not moved out.

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