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Still beyond the border by Charlotte Wat

Residents in put up a banner which means ‘open the restricted area and give me freedom!’ in English.

he latest government’s street in Sha Tau Kok, have become immigrants via proposal to partially tighter after the handover in 1997. and were arrested in the FCA, Topen up Sha Tau Kok, “Policemen check the permits however, has decreased for the past a restricted area at the northeast of local residents even after they three years, from 83 in 2005 to 28 of the territory, has frustrated the have passed the control point for ten in 2007. villagers as their freedom to move times,” he said Villagers criticised the beyond and businesses have been The government released a government’s failure to tighten the restrained. proposal to open up the some of the border security, at the expense of “The present situation of Sha frontier closed areas in January this the villagers’ livelihood. Tau Kok is like a cage and prison,” year, under which Lok Ma Chau Loop said Cheng Ma-fook, village head and its adjacent Hoo Hok Wai, at the of Village in Sha Tau Kok, northwest of Kong, would be “The present Sha which is one of the Frontier Closed opened up gradually by 2013, while Tau Kok is like a Area (FCA) in . Sha Tau Kok would remain restricted. The entry into the FCA is subject The government said due to the cage and prison.” to restrictions. Only those who get continued smuggling activities and the permits from the police can illegal immigration near Sha Tau Tang Pun-sang, village head get into the restricted areas. Local Kok town and Chung Ying Street, of Kong Ha village in Sha Tau Kok, residents and tenants are usually the FCA boundary would only be said the government is responsible issued a five-year or one-year permit pushed northwards to Gate One, for managing the security problem. of multiple entries, while their which is the entrance of Sha Tau Kok “Smuggling exists in every part of relatives and friends are usually town. Under the proposal, the whole the world. It is not reasonable to use issued permits of multiple entries Sha Tau Kok town and Chung Ying this as an excuse (not to open up Sha which are generally valid for the Street would still lie in the FCA. Tau Kok),” Mr Tang said. maximum of four days. According to the government’s Although Sha Tau Kok town Mr Cheng added that the statistics, the number of smuggling and Chung Ying Street would still restrictions for entry into Chung cases rose from 363 in 2006 to 612 lie in the FCA, the government is Ying Street, a major commercial last year. The number of illegal now discussing the feasibility of

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allowing tourists to use the Sha “Security of Hong Kong overrides local Mr To suggested developing high- residential buildings in the present He added that the government Tau Kok public pier. Some shop end tourism in Sha Tau Kok, which restricted areas. Ten of them have should provide guidelines for owners in Sha Tau Kok, however, are economic interests,” involves a smaller number of visitors been graded by the Antiques local residents so that they can discontent with the government’s but higher expenses. Advisory Board of the Antiquities understand how to make good use plan to open the pier only. While villagers and councillors and Monuments Office. For example, of their land instead of selling it to “Opening up the pier for public Mr Tsang added that Chung Lau Kong-wah, policy are urging for the release of Sha Tau the blackhouses built in the colonial developers immediately. use only cannot help the business Ying Street and San Lau Street spokesperson of security for Kok Town and Chung Ying Street, periods to defend communist attack, Kim Chan Kim-on, Vice- because the tour buses would simply had unique historical background Democratic Alliance for the some problems need to be resolved have been graded as Grade II historic chairman of the Hong Kong Planners pass Sha Tau Kok Town and tourists and villagers in Sha Tau Kok had Betterment and Progress of Hong before the release. buildings. Association said Sha Tau Kok can be cannot go into the town to shop traditional cultures, which may Kong (DAB), said the government’s The set up of the FCA can be Under the government’s opened up in a progressive manner. around,” said Ms Fung, owner of a appeal to tourists. decision is unfair to the residents traced back to the 1950s. Due to proposal, three villages including He suggested that trial points grocery in Sha Tau Kok Market. Michael Wu Siu-ying, in Sha Tau Kok. frequent commercial activities along Tak Yuet Lau, Ha Wan Tsuen and could be set at the entrance of Sha Wan Wo-fai, District Councilor the Chairman of Hong Kong “The residents in Sha Tau Kok the border and illegal immigration Ma Tso Lung in will Tau Kok Town and Chung Ying of Sha Tau Kok, said most of the Association of Travel Agents, have been kept in the restricted problems, the colonial government be opened up. The land value in Street and the number of tourists shops in Sha Tau Kok could not also regarded Sha Tau Kok as a areas for many years. The established the restricted areas the villages is expected to rise and and the time of visits could also be make any profit and were forced to valuable tourist spot. He said unreleased parts (of Sha Tau Kok) along the border between Hong the present residential buildings, restricted during the trial period. close their business. He hoped the a lot of travel agencies would will be turned into a walled city if Kong and in 1951. some of which have over 100 years of He added that a well-planned whole of Sha Tau Kok Town could invest in the tours along the the situation continues,” he said. Being untouched for over 50 history, may be pulled down. proposal is needed before the be opened up so as to improve the FCA if Chung Ying Street was Mr Lau added that the years, many heritages such as altars, Tsang Yuk-on, Chairman of Government carries out any business of the shops. opened up. Security Bureau should resolve graveyards, wells, bridges and steles Sha Tau Kok Trade Union, said the development. Tsang Yuk-on, Chairman of Sha “Chung Ying Street would be the smuggling problems instead in the FCA are of high historical FCA should be developed by well- “Both hardware and software Tau Kok Trade Union, suggested that the main course while eco-tourism in of pushing the responsibility of and cultural values. There are planning, with the coordination of the are needed for further development Sha Tau Kok, if opened up completely, other neighbouring area would security to the residents. approximately 300 historical and government and local residents. of this town,” he said. tourist industry could be developed be the side dish for the tours,” James To Kun-sun, vice- which would boost its economy. added Mr Wu. chairman of the security panel of

CHARLOTTE WAT CHARLOTTE the Legislative Council, however, WAT CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE WAT CHARLOTTE had a different view on the security problems in the FCA. Mr To said smuggling and illegal immigration activities are more serious in Sha Tau Kok than in other border areas because of the absence of physical barriers to separate the residential areas and the boundary. “Security of Hong Kong is public interest, which overrides local economic interests,” he said. “The residents and shop owners should have understood the security problems and accept this once they chose to live in the FCA,” he added. Having noticed the direct conflict between tourism development Residents have to show their Identity cards and police-issued permits. and security problems in the FCA, Most shops in San Lau Street are closed. Mr Wan hopes the whole Sha Tau Kok Town can be released to save the business of the shops.

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