An ironic tale has emerged concerning the future of the picturesque Tai Long Wan beaches in Sai Kung, considered by many to be the best in Hong Kong.

Thomas Sit, assistant director at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), recently filed applications to build five houses in Ham Tin village in the New Territories.

And in case you thought you heard that wrong, yes, Sit works for the same government body whose main objective is to preserve the environment and natural beauty of Hong Kong.

Go figure.

Sit and his family are members of the Ham Tin village, but moved out long ago in search of a better life in the city.

We sympathise. Spotty internet connection and lack of reliable public transport can sure make one’s life a nightmare!

Now the civil servant plans to return to the village a made man, and promises to embark on a noble mission to preserve the culture.

Sit maintains that the construction applications are in line with the New Territories Small House Policy introduced by the government in 1972.

The policy, which was designed to keep villagers in the villages instead of jetting off to Central (as Sit kind of already did), grants a plot of land for sons of indigenous villagers on which to build a small house.

According to the applications, however, Sit plans to build five houses just 100 metres from the beach of Sai Kung East Country Park and 1.5 kilometres from Tai Long Sai Wan.

Despite concerns the huge constructions will cause irreversible damage to the environmental relics in the area, Sit insists the effect would be negligible.

Though the applications mention built-in septic tanks, waste runoff remains a concern, reports Apple Daily.

The house construction applications have drawn criticism from Peter Li (Conservancy Association NGO), who argued that the proposals will give the general public the idea that government officials get special treatment.

Perish the thought.

Li also questioned Sit’s motives for wanting to build all five houses at once, insinuating the official will flip them for profit in the future.

Or maybe he wants to have that grand beach party sooner rather than later.

Photo: Mark Lehmkuhler via Flickr

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