C.
5,
ISSUES ON PROPERTY RIGHTS
1.
THE CHOI YUEN VILLAGE INCIDENT (DEC. 1977
-
MAY 1978)
Choi Yuen Village is an area near the Sheung Shui Railway Station in the New Territories originally owned by natives of the
New Territories.
In December 1977, people in the area received notice from the Government claiming possession of the land for development within 6 months' time.
More than 10,000 people were affected, most of whom had been living there for more than 10 years. The majority were legal tenants and some were landlords.
Most buildings in the area had been certified by the New Territories Administration as legal structures.
Most of the residents there were promised accommodation in near-by Fanling Temporary Housing Area where the space provided for each person was 20 sq. ft. (much less than the universally accepted minimum of 35 sq. ft. ) and the people had to pay money for their wooden hut construction and also pay rent to the Government on a monthly basis.
Small amount of money was given for compensation of vegetables, fruits and poultry but the Government refused any compensation for residential buildings.
The residents were opposed to this unfair deal and petitioned the New Territories Administration but to no avail. (Appendix la,b,c)
On April 25, 1978, bull-dozers accompanied by 300 policemen from the Police Tactical Unit (a unit designated to deal with riots) moved into the area and started forcing people out of their homes when a typhoon signal had been hoisted.
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