PHILA.SIU@SCMP.COM
UPDATED : Sunday, 20 March, 2016, 2:11am
A man views debris after bulldozers flattened squatter homes in Kwu Tung North village in Sheung Shui. Photo: Felix Wong
Police have arrested a man suspected to be connected with the demolition of Sheung Shui village homes last week.
Chief Inspector Ng Tak-nam of New Territories North regional headquarters said three excavators were found about 100 metres from where the Kwu Tung North houses were reduced to rubble.
Officers had managed to track down a 58-year-old man, surnamed Tang, who was connected with the excavators. Ng would not give details of Tang’s exact involvement, but RTHK quoted sources as saying he owned a firm that repaired excavators.
“The man is connected with the excavators. He is being detained as we continue with the investigation. The police place much importance on this case,” Ng said.
The 58-year-old is led away by officers yesterday. Police are still trying to determine who ordered the buildings to be cleared. Photo: Dickson Lee
The case has been classified as criminal damage.
On Monday morning more than a dozen structures in Kwu Tung North, ranging from huts to chicken sheds, were demolished.
The buildings were home to at least 10 residents from two households. The families claimed to have lived there for decades.
Villagers said they remonstrated with the unidentified people who operated the excavators, but to no avail. The operators left the site soon after the job was completed. No one was injured.
The villagers said they suspected that Team Glory Development, a subsidiary of Henderson Land Development, was involved and accused the subsidiary of trying to clear the site for development.
Henderson has repeatedly denied having anything to do with the demolition.
Asked if Tang was linked to the developers, Ng replied: “We are still looking into the case and we do not rule out any possibilities.
“We are trying to find out who operated [the excavators], who gave the order to do so, and who is the mastermind behind it.”
One of the villagers who lost his home in the clearance, Wong Man-fa, 65, hoped police could solve the case quickly.
“When I heard about the arrest, of course I am happy. But I hope the police can make further inroads soon,” said Wong, who is now living with his son.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1927607/police-arrest-suspect-over-village-home-demolitions
