The government has given compensation including 'allowances' to rural committees and indigenous villagers for fung shui claims over the Hong Kong to Guangzhou high-speed rail link, the Lands Department confirmed.
It is not known how much the government has spent.
The compensation comes after the government received numerous objections to the rail link on fung shui grounds by villagers since the project was gazetted in November 2008. The Working Group on Fung Shui Claims and Removal of Graves/Urns was set up to 'handle and approve claims related to graves/urns removal and other fung shui claims', a Lands Department spokeswoman said.
The group comprises representatives of the Lands Department, Highways Department, Home Affairs Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the MTR Corporation.
There have been 14 objections to the project on fung shui grounds and 16 claims on fung shui grounds.
Claims include an allowance for a religious ritual known as tun fu, the building of a pagoda, village office/worship hall and temple renovation.
