As the city's status in global network is renewed, rural chiefs say islanders lack basic amenities
ERNEST KAOernest.kao@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Monday, 21 September, 2015, 12:02am
UPDATED : Monday, 21 September, 2015, 8:21am
The Geopark may be popular with tourists, but residents say it has not worked for them. Photo: May Tse
Island villagers are angry at Hong Kong's renewed membership of an international geopark network and accuse the government of ignoring them while pandering to tourists.
The heads of the five villages on Tung Ping Chau will discuss their grievances on Wednesday before taking it up with the Heung Yee Kuk, the powerful organisation that fights for rural rights.
One village chief said she was in favour of closing villages and private paths to visitors.
READ MORE: Geopark retains global heritage ranking amid opposition from residents
The Hong Kong Geopark, which comprises eight sites in Sai Kung and the northeastern New Territories, retained its status as a world-class geological heritage park on Saturday.
It contains natural features such as hexagonal volcanic rock columns, which Unesco describes as a "world rarity".
Wong Kam-sing welcomes the news
Environment secretary Wong Kam-sing welcomed the revalidation and vowed to strengthen local engagement.
But Tang Tin-loi, chairman of the Sai Kung North and Tung Ping Chau affairs committee, said the Unesco inspectors would never have passed it if they had visited the island or read letters villagers had sent them.
"We're quite disappointed," said the Tai Tong villager. "If the overseas assessors had actually been brought to Tung Ping Chau, they would have issued Hong Kong a "yellow card".
Parks that belong to the Global Geoparks Network are revalidated every four years. This is the city's first assessment since becoming a member in 2011. Two yellow cards lead to loss of membership.
Lack of sustainable electricity and water supplies are two areas of concern to villagers.
"The government claims they have provided us with things like gasoline generators, but these are very expensive to run and are only enough to power a few lights and the fridge," said Tang.
Yuen Siu-ying, who represents Chau Tau village, said the government had neglected villagers while focusing on making the area tourist-friendly.
READ MORE: Geopark residents leaving ancestral homes
"The government will basically ignore our concerns for another four years until the next assessment looms," she said.
"If the decision were up to me, I would personally close my village and all the private paths. Does something like Occupy Central have to happen before the government listens?"
Banners criticising the Geopark, hoisted by villagers. Photo: May Tse
She said the government had "lied to the whole world" about the real situation of Tung Ping Chau.
"Villagers are very angry."
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it would continue to assist relevant departments to deal with villagers' concerns. It said earlier it aimed to improve transport links and set up visitor centres with the help of locals.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1859995/hong-kong-government-accused-neglecting-villagers
