Hong Kong villagers go on bended knee to protest against government housing plan

About 60 villagers and activists from Wang Chau in Yuen Long call on chief executive-elect Carrie Lam to meet them and listen to their views

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Wang Chau villagers get down on their knees during their protest march to Carrie Lam’s office. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 8:00pm, 17 Apr 2017Updated: 9:41pm, 17 Apr 2017

More than 60 villagers and activists from Yuen Long’s Wang Chau area marched – some on their knees – from Chater Garden in Central to the office of the chief executive-elect on Monday to protest against what they consider to be an “unjust” housing development plan that will see at least 180 households displaced.

What would have normally been a 10-minute walk took more than an hour as three villagers leading the procession got down on their knees and raised their arms every three steps of the way in a plea to the city’s new leader, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, to meet them and listen to their woes.

To the slow beat of a drum, the villagers, who included children and elderly people from three non-indigenous villages – Wing Ning Tsuen, Fung Chi Tsuen and Yeung Uk San Tsuen – marched silently to the lobby of Champion Tower. An employee from Lam’s office received their petition letter.

Some of the protesters carried fruit to chief executive-elect Carrie Lam’s office in Central. Photo: Sam Tsang

“I hope [the new administration]won’t be so cold-blooded,”said Chan Oi-kam, who is village head of Wing Ning Tsuen. “It is unfair and unjust. They have never even consulted us.”