HONG KONG: The government is willing to accept most suggestions by Choi Yuen Tsuen villagers who said they will agree to move to make way for the Express Rail Link project if they can continue farming elsewhere.

The news was delivered by Heung Yee Kuk chairman Lau Wong-fat after meeting with Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng yesterday.

The government accepted in principle the villagers' proposal to rebuild their village, said Lau.

Choi Yuen Tsuen was chosen as the site to build an emergency rescue station for the HK$66.9 billion project connecting Hong Kong with the mainland's high speed railway network. About 150 households will be affected. The villagers who had sworn not to move out said on Sunday they would compromise if they can continue their way of life in a replica village.

Lau hailed the move as positive and said the government is willing to meet most requirements set by the villagers.

The Choi Yuen Tsuen Action Group has called for interest-free loans for villagers who are unable to rent or buy farm land despite the government compensation package.

Heung Yee Kuk, a statutory advisory body representing the indigenous inhabitants of New Territories, will make every effort to help find affordable land for the villagers by May, Lau said.

Deputy Chairman of Heung Yee Kuk Cheung Hok-ming urged the villagers to register with the Lands Department before the government's compensation package expires on Sunday.

Registration and verification of the villagers' identities would be the first step in finding a solution, Cheung said.

According to the government, the majority - more than 140 households - of Choi Yuen Tsuen have registered for the government offer to reclaim their land. Under the existing government package, they would receive up to HK$600,000 cash allowance or HK$500,000 plus a right to buy subsidized housing without a means test.

Also yesterday, Yau Shing-mu, Under Secretary for Transport and Housing, said on a radio show that the villagers' requirements to continue to farm on bought or rented land are allowed by the existing agricultural re-site policy.

"Many of their suggestions are within the policy framework and can be negotiated," he said.

He didn't give an estimate on the financial cost, saying each family's situation is different and it would take time to examine the cases.

(HK Edition 02/24/2010 page1)