Calls are growing for the government to say how much it spends on compensation for claims of harm to fung shui from public works, amid concern that projects are being held hostage to geomancy.
Lawmakers want the government to say how many such claims have been made and how much the compensating measures have cost. Some want the compensation to end.
The government confirmed work has been undertaken, or payments made, to compensate for fung shui problems in connection with construction of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou express rail link, the MTR's West Rail line and a spur line, but won't say how much was paid out or what criteria it uses to judge a claim.
Civic Party lawmaker Tanya Chan will demand the Lands Department table the information for discussion in the Legislative Council.
Democratic Party lawmaker Wong Sing-chi said: 'The Lands Department must make public the information on fung shui claims, as it is using public money. The government should explain to the public how much the claims cost, how they used the money, and for what.'
One such claim concerns Kap Lung village in the New Territories, whose indigenous head wants the government to turn a footbridge into one that can take vehicles to compensate for what he says is the disruption to fung shui caused by tunnelling work for the express link a kilometre away.
