250 Hongkongers attend open day for public park at golf course plot taken back by government; villagers voice dismay over revoked putting perks
- Visitors divided over whether to support plans to build public housing on 9.5 of 32 hectares taken back from golf club’s oldest course
- Villagers trespass in restricted areas of wider 32-hectare site and ignore requests from government employees to cease playing golf
More than 250 Hongkongers visited a section of the city’s oldest golf course on Monday morning for its opening as a public park, but a dozen villagers were left disappointed when they could not play the sport on the land taken back by authorities.
Some residents who stopped by the park also said they were unsure whether the area should be set aside for developing public housing.
Retiree Linda Chan on Monday said she and her husband were visiting the park out of curiosity arising from the controversial housing proposal. The 65-year-old added that she felt conflicted over the development plan.
“I really like the area. It is spacious … it is a good thing for the public to enjoy the space,” she said. “But I also understand that some residents desperately need to improve their living environment.”
The park forms part of the 9.5 hectares of land earmarked for public housing, a proposal that prompted the club to launch a legal bid to halt the development.
The remainder of the land taken back from the club was reserved under the original proposal for recreation and conservation purposes.
