Tai Ho Stream SSSI (SSSI 63) is one of the few remaining medium-sized natural streams stretching from uplands to the lowland estuary and because it supports the greatest diversity of fresh water and brackish-water fish in the territory. The SSSI includes mangroves and seagrass beds. It is also an important horseshoe crab spawning ground and nursery area. Access to Tai Ho Wan SSSI on Lantau was previously blocked by villagers, who have erected a gate to prevent access, because their “small house development” rights are threatened by the SSSI. In a clear attempt to blackmail the government, they have now taken their protest further, by starting to cut down the mangroves. Translation of report: New Territories villagers protest against restrictions on the development of mangrove shovel update: 2014/08/24 20:33 More than a hundred villagers in the Tung Chung Tai Ho Wan, New Territories demonstrations, dissatisfaction government gazetted the part of agricultural land included in Site of Special Scientific Interest, limiting them to build small houses and rehabilitation. They will be part of the mangrove leveled require dialogue with government officials. AFCD did not respond to someone on such private land cut tree will be how to follow up. Demonstrations villagers on conservation areas protected under the law of the excavation protest leveled mangroves, also used excavators to dig rotten trees. The villagers said, Tai Ho Bay 2 hectares of land and three rivers of 4 hectares this year, three were included in gazetted as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, namely SSSI states restrict all development, farming excavators should apply. And close to the border areas can not build houses there are three villages affected, including cattle, revolves around Long Village. Villagers admit no longer farming since the 1980s, but considers zoned conservation area equivalent to occupy their private property rights. The villagers said that the representative of a total of 57 villages in the New Territories, and Heung Yee Kuk vice chairman Daniel Lam came to support, demanding the immediate and Development Council and the Secretary for the Environment met to negotiate, change conservation policy, otherwise other villages will relay demonstrations. Watch the video here:
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 12:59:30 +0000
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