Bishop's Hill Faces Clearance After Two Decades of Illegal Occupation
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Lands Department has issued a final clearance order requiring the removal of illegal structures on Sham Shui Po's Bishop's Hill by February 9, after nearly two decades of unauthorized occupation by local residents. The conflict between community use and Government land management has intensified since the discovery of a century-old Roman-style reservoir in 2020, which was subsequently graded as a Grade I historic building. Recent enforcement actions target newly built structures including a Mao Zedong Cultural Hall, while authorities maintain a policy of removing only post-June 2022 constructions.
Key Points
- The Home Affairs Department describes Bishop's Hill as a longstanding Government land occupation problem spanning over a decade in Sham Shui Po district
- A SARS survivor named Su Zhiqiang discovered the reservoir area in 2007-2008 and constructed fitness facilities, stone tables, and shelters, creating a community gathering spot
- The Water Supplies Department stated in 2009 it would support recreational development if another Government department applied and took responsibility for management
- Over 3,000 residents signed a petition in May 2022 opposing removal notices issued for seven locations on the hill
- Democratic and pro-establishment lawmakers united in June 2022 to demand preservation of the facilities, with a LegCo member proposing a "balance plan"
- Recent construction of a Mao Zedong Cultural Hall with a large statue prompted the latest clearance order; the deadline is February 9
- The Lands Department conducted 33 inspections over the past three months and will continue removing post-June 2022 structures
Why It Matters
The Bishop's Hill case illustrates the tension between community-driven informal recreation spaces and formal land management in densely populated Sham Shui Po, where genuine demand for exercise facilities has conflicted with Government land regulations. As authorities prepare to enforce the clearance order, the outcome will set a precedent for how Hong Kong balances historic preservation with addressing illegal occupation of public land.
The Bishop's Hill case illustrates the tension between community-driven informal recreation spaces and formal land management in densely populated Sham Shui Po, where genuine demand for exercise facilities has conflicted with Government land regulations. As authorities prepare to enforce the clearance order, the outcome will set a precedent for how Hong Kong balances historic preservation with addressing illegal occupation of public land.