Talk of the town：Reclaiming for development
【明報專訊】In an announcement published on the 8th of March, the government has proposed reclaiming the land in Yuen Long San Tin for the development of the San Tin Technopole project. This plan includes the eviction of the non-indigenous village, Ha Wan Tsuen (下灣村), located near the border in Lok Ma Chau(落馬洲). On the same day, officials from the Lands Department arrived village to indicate that the expected relocation period would be between the third quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2027.
The village chief expressed his disappointment, stating that they had been collecting signatures from approximately 300 villagers since May last year, hoping to preserve the village. One of the elderly villagers, who is in her nineties, is bedridden, and her son is concerned about the difficulties his mother might face during the relocation, hoping that the authorities would allow her to spend her remaining years in the village she has called home for a century.
The Development Bureau stating that some villagers in Ha Wan Village expressed their desire to preserve the village. However, due to the village's location in a strategic area designated for innovation and technology development, the suggestion could not be accommodated. The Bureau mentioned that eligible affected villagers can choose to relocate to public housing or receive special allowances.
San Tin Technopole
With the National 14th Five-Year Plan supporting Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology centre, the government aspire to develop the Northern Metropolis into a "new international I&T city". San Tin Technopole is one of the proposals in the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy. It is strategically positioned to be a hub for clustered IT development that creates synergy with Shenzhen IT Zone.
Development and preservation
It is not impossible that a path where progress and heritage can be coexisted in harmony. Some of the urban renewal projects in Hong Kong preserves buildings, sites and structures of historical, cultural or architectural value. For instance, the Central Market in Central is one of the successful examples.
Grammar Booster
Not impossible (double negative)
We can use ''not + an adjective or adverb with a negative prefix'' as a way of softening or downtoning the meaning of the adjective. The meaning becomes affirmative (肯定), but the double negation shows that the writer/speaker is cautious about it.
E.g. not unexpected, not unreasonable
■Gear up
Ha Wan Tsuen is near to Shenzhen.
(True/ False)
■Glossary
reclaim (v)收回
bedridden (adj)臥牀不起
synergy (n)協同作用
heritage (n)文化遺產
(Criticisms on this publication, if any, are aimed at pointing out the errors or defects of certain systems or policies with a view to rectifying or eradicating such errors or defects, as well as prompting improvement or remedy for them via lawful means. There is absolutely no intention of inciting hatred, discontent or hostility towards the government or other classes of the community.)
[Smarties' Power English 第410期]
