HK activists try to stop high-speed rail link to Guangzhou

• Source: Global Times
• [02:57 January 13 2010]
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By Deng Jingyin

Hong Kong activists plan to camp out overnight outside the city's Legislative Council building to show their opposition to a proposal to a high-speed railway that would link the city with Guangzhou.

The city's government said the HK$66.9 billion ($8.6 billion) Guangzhou-Shenzhen- Hong Kong Express Rail Link is necessary for the city's development and could generate HK$87 billion ($11 billion) over 50 years, a plan activists feel is too costly and could damage Hong Kong's culture and environment.

The city's legislature is expected to discuss the funding proposal Friday.

The activists, who refer to themselves as Post-80s Anti- Express Railway Group, will launch a three-day carnival-like protest tomorrow that will feature a concert and movies.

About 20 protestors staged demonstrations at universities Tuesday while six took part in an 120-hour hunger strike.

One of the protesters said the government did not listen to their opinions.

A university student said she was skeptical of the project.

"It is too costly. It is said that the project will create long-term benefits, but I just think it is not possible," she said. Others feel the railway will relocate villagers, which they feel is unfair.

Ko Chun-heung, a villager from Choi Yuen Tsuen, which has to make way for the railway, said the government should not change the lifestyle of the 150 households in the village for others' convenience.

"We are forced to move out of this area due to this project. But our leisure farming lifestyle is also the dream life for many people after retirement," she told Time Weekly.