Death Of A Village

For over 20 years, Kwok Yue-Ka, 53, had been charging HK$20 for a haircut, but it all ended on Monday when he and other residents were forced to move out from Nga Tsin Wai Village (衙前圍村) in Kowloon.

“Very sad, very sad because I feel that history has come to an end for this 600-year-old village,” Leung Kwok-Hung, the last resident, told Channel News Asia. “Today (it is) still a village; tomorrow, it’ll be another big site. That’s it, you can’t do anything.”

The 50,000-square-foot village was founded in the mid-14th century. The walls were built in 1724 to protect from pirates. They remained in use until the early 20th century, when they were converted into housing. Most of the residents began as squatters. The village was the only remaining walled village in Kowloon. The redevelopment will preserve the village’s Tin Hau Temple and gate. The remaining buildings will be demolished and converted into shopping centers and private housing.

The project is estimated to cost HK$1.24 billion and is aimed to be completed by 2018-19. The Urban Renewal Authority announced the village would be redeveloped in 2007. They offered residents a chance to be resettled. Under a proposal, village businesses would be rebuilt in the new development. Rents would be frozen for three years at HK$600, then rise to current market values over the next five years.

The Nga Tsin Wai Tsueun Redevelopment Concern Group opposed it, arguing that the amount of money is insufficient. They had hoped that the Conservation Association would help preserve the village due to its rich history and culture. The number of villagers had been declining for the last few years due to their advanced age and the poor state of their houses.

Last December, the Urban Renewal Authority issued an ultimatum, asking residents to leave or face fines of $500,000 and up to 6 months in prison if they stayed past today’s deadline.