Urban homeowners jumped into the fray as the conflict between New Territories villagers and the government rages on over the removal of illegal structures, which erupted into an effigy burning outburst this week.

About 10 representatives from a concern group representing homeowners in private buildings protested outside the Development Bureau's building in Central Wednesday morning.

The demonstrators expressed resentment at villagers' demands, and at their conduct in Monday's angry demonstration. Wednesday's protesters called the action by the villagers "extremely unreasonable".

"What they want is super privileges on top of the concessionary right for 'small houses'," said a member of the concern group, Andrew Wan Siu-kin.

He charged the villagers are becoming an ultra-privileged class in Hong Kong.

Wan said his group wants to "expose the truth" behind the villagers' claims that "small houses" are their traditional right and interest and they are merely protecting their homes.

The "small houses" have nothing to do with New Territories people's tradition, since the program was introduced only in 1972, through the Small House Policy, Wan said, adding it's just a "cushion" policy.

What's more, many "small houses" are not the homes of indigenous villagers, Wan said.

Some have already been sold as luxury houses. A three-story house sells as much HK$8 million, he said.

The concern group said the government should be held responsible for the current difficult situation.

Wan said he believes the Development Bureau's past soft attitude has given "unreasonable expectations" to the "unreasonable demands" of the New Territories villagers.

The group also accused the government of setting double standards toward law enforcement on illegal structures.

Owners of illegal structures on private buildings in urban area are displeased that the government is providing village house owners with a reporting scheme, which doesn't require immediate removal of low-risk structures built before June 18.

"In some cases, the situation of our houses is less serious than that of village houses in the New Territories," said another representative of the concern group, Tsui Sang-hung.

Tsui also complained that the enforcement has no order of priority.

Some dangerous structures have yet to receive removal letters, while some minor ones already have, he said.

Tsui added that homeowners in the urban area are not as "united" as villagers in the New Territories.

"They have more people, bigger voices," he said, "but our feelings should not be ignored."

On the other side, Chairman of the Heung Yee Kuk Lau Wong-fat called Secretary for Development Carrie Lam on Wednesday morning to talk about the unlicensed building works.

It needs time to find a solution, Wong said after the phone call.

guojiaxue@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 12/01/2011 page1)