Last Villagers Face Deadline to Leave Cha Kwo Ling Squatter Settlement

One of Hong Kong's last remaining squatter settlements at Cha Kwo Ling is facing an August 25 deadline for residents to clear out as the government advances redevelopment plans for public housing. Mrs Lam, a resident in her sixties, must abandon her medicinal herb garden that has provided her with more than HK$400,000 in earnings, describing the move as a profound loss. Multiple government departments, including the Lands Department, anti-triad police unit, Fire Services Department, and private security firms, began acquisition operations on Wednesday morning. The settlement, nestled within thick vegetation, features a mix of makeshift metal structures and traditional stone houses with wooden window frames, representing a vanishing way of life in the densely developed city. Meanwhile, Ng Po-wo, owner of Mau Fat Teahouse who has lived in the village since 1953, claims authorities have yet to contact him about evacuation or compensation arrangements.

The clearance of Cha Kwo Ling marks the end of an era for Hong Kong's historical squatter communities, many of which date back to the post-war period when migrants from mainland China settled in the city's rural fringes. The redevelopment highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and the preservation of traditional ways of life, as long-term residents like Mrs Lam face displacement with limited compensation. As public housing projects replace these villages, questions arise about how the government balances housing needs against cultural heritage and the livelihoods of vulnerable residents.