Probable solution for under-demolished Pokfulam Village

By HE Li

“We want people to settle down, so they will not feel the threat anymore, I mean, by the heart, ” says Nigel Lo, a villager of Pokfulam.

Crouched in the shadow of high-rise buildings, Hong Kong island, the squatter Pokfulam village has been under the threat of demolition by the government’s redevelopment policy for decades.

At the first sight, Pokfulam Village is a cluster of shattered low buildings. Stepping down the stiff steps from the roadside to the village, it is like entering an old world. Single-story houses with pitched-tile roof stands on both sides of the narrow street. The wall of the houses are dark with moss.

“The houses are damaged over years and people repaired them with cheap and temporary materials. It is because as villagers, we feel we will be moved out all the time. No one wants to spend money on the houses,” Nigel, a fouth generation villager in Pokfulam, explains.

Like most of the villagers here, Nigel’s ancestors settled down in Pokfulam village in 1880s, escaping from war in mainland China. And since then their families never leave. Pokfulam village’s land ownership is claimed by both the government and the villigers.

“For decades, we are hearing the government will take the land back. We are threatened all the time.

“Of course we don’t like outsiders see us as ‘shanty town’ like what is written in the wikipedia. The solution is to have people’s heart settle down. When villagers feel safe, naturally they will start build their houses and improve the landscape of the village.”

Villagers are preparing for workshops in the community garden

To fight back, Nigel formed a conservation group in the village in 2007, aiming to rise the awareness of the village. The group organizes weekly workshops to showcase their rituals, lifestyles and traditional crafts like fire dragon and chilli-oil making.

The campaign is successful. Visitors flock to the village, walking around under the guidance of villagers and taking part in various workshops.

At the same time, villagers themselves become more united and proud of their culture. They gather every Sunday in the community garden, a public space in the middle of the village. The old teach the traditional crafts to the young. In a workshop of chilli-oil making, an old lady of 96 year old uses the chilli she planted to teach the young. Everybody gathers around and learn with respect.

Villagers are making chilli oil in the workshop.

“We like the harmonious atmosphere in our village. Everybody says hello with big smiles, unlike in the city neighbour don’t know each other,” says Ho Shuwen, a villager in Pokfulam.

Now another campaign is going on, the village is cooperating with Architecture Department of University of Hong Kong. Villagers want to improve the landscape of the village and show the government its educational value, by using the village as a living laboratory for the students.

“We are glad to have this opportunity to help Pokfulam Village to improve their condition for it is one of the oldest village in Hong Kong island with very unique culture,” says Olive, a student in University of Hong Kong, who currently works in a project of improving the sewage system in Pokfulam Village.

The effort the villagers made paid off. In February this year, Pokfulam Village was named in the watch list of World Monuments Fund. The village gets attention from more and more people.

However, the “battle” still goes on. “We did not get any response from the government yet,” Nigel says, “We wish we can make it in the end. We will be truly proud at that time.”

Last fisherman: Post-fishing era of Tai-O fishing village

Tai-O fishing village has been left an empty name since fishing industry in this village has long faded.

Located on western side of Lantau Island, the village used to be one of the major fishing areas in Hong Kong. Fishing industry flourished in the 1950s and peaked during the 1960s, a time when it also began to demonstrate signs of decline. “There was few fish left as early as 1970s or 80s,” said Huang Wenguang, who used to be a fisherman in the village, “Resources have been exhausted because of excessive fishing in the past.”

The situation kept deteriorating and fishermen were forced to remoter areas at much higher expenses. Ever since the 1980s, barely anyone remained in the industry.

By now, the fishing village has developed into a tourist resort. Most young people left for urban areas to work; while the old were left, some doing marginal businesses targeting mostly towards tourists.

“I see bleak future for revival of the fishing industry in Tai-O,” said Wen Fuming, a retired fisherman, “Resources, governmental policies have made the expense to high. Tourism has taken its place.”

Impact of Internet on investigative journalism

By HE Li
HONG KONG–SOPA-HKBU award winning journalists discussed the role of Internet on investigative journalism in Hong Kong Baptist University on Tuesday.

Titthara MAY, editor from The Phnom Penh Post, said Internet cannot replace journalists to gather information. “We cannot find many of the government documents online in Cambodia. Journalists still need to go and ask for documents in order to do investigations.”

Thomas Fuller, a Myanmar-based correspondent from the New York Times, also said that it is necessary to send journalists to “knock on the door”, for only by doing this can the journalists find the truth. “People mostly post their feelings on Facebook and other social media. You don’t know what’s true unless you go and check it.”

However, other journalists in the forum find the Internet brings new opportunities for investigative journalism.

Micheal Forsyth, Investigative reporter for Bloomberg News, said the Internet is a paradise for reporters to gather information. He explained how he uses the Internet to do research and examine the data and statistics to find out social problems.

Mr. Micheal Forsyth recently wrote a report about the family wealth of China’s President Xi Jingping, which was based on the legal documents he found on the Internet.

Indonesian helper gets power to pursue dream

Marie (picture by HE Li)

At the age of 29, Marie, an Indonesian domestic helper in Hong Kong, will get her high school diploma this year and apply for an airline stewardess.

“To be an air hostess is always my dream. Although it is a little bit late for my age, it is better to give it a try than never,” Marie says.

Back in several years ago, Marie did not have the courage to pursue her dream. She only finished secondary school before she became a domestic helper. She did not know where to start.

“I was so shy to ask people, although I always want to be an air hostess,” Marie says.

This is the eighth year in Hong Kong for Marie. Currently she works for a Cantonese family. Before that she had worked for other three families. She works from 6 a.m to 8 or 9 p.m. and has one day off per week. She gets 3,920 HKD per month, the average payment for foreign domestic helpers set by Hong Kong Government.

“It’s always busy, but that’s just everyday life, I have got used to it.” Marie says.

Despite the busy life, Marie grows mature during her years in Hong Kong. More importantly, she learns how to fight for life.

When she worked for the first family in Hong Kong, Marie was paid 2,000 HKD per month, while the least payment for helpers was 3,620 HKD then. Although being underpaid, Marie did not have the courage to sue her employers, afraid of being fired.

Encouraged by her friends, Marie finally decided to fight for her rights. She recalled how scared she was at that time. She secretly gathered all the evidences needed. And at the last day of her contract, she gathered the courage to tell her employers that she will bring them to court.

In the end, Marie won and got 15,000 HKD from her employers. That’s the first time she knew she can make things happen.

“I learn from what I experienced and grow mature. And I finally realize if I really want to do something, I should give it a try.” says Marie.

Always with her dream in mind, Marie started to search online and ask people about how to become an air hostess. She knew her limitation in education background, so she decided to get a high school diploma.

Last year, she finally found that there is a project conducted by Hong Kong Indonesian Friendship Association. She can get a high school diploma of an Indonesia school when finishes the one-year courses.

She paid 4,200 HKD for the courses and took classes every Sunday. In her spare time, she read and practice what she learned. Finally she passed the final exams and will get the diploma at the end of this year.

Marie is one of the 150,000 Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong. Most of them are female and work as domestic helpers. But among them, few people pursue further education.

“It is rare to see helpers continue to pursue education here in Hong Kong,” says a faculty member of Mission for Migrant Workers, a non-governmental organization in Hong Kong.

After getting the high school diploma, Marie will go back to Indonesia and apply for her dream job.

“If I can make it happen, it will be just like in the heaven.” Marie looks upon with a big smile in her face.

Unveil the untouched Villages

Ma Tso Lung Village (picture by HE LI)

HONG KONG–Between the prosperous City Shenzhen and Hong Kong, an area of 2800 ha was fenced as Frontier Closed Area by the Hong Kong Government in 1951. Serving as a buffer zone along the border to prevent Mainlanders from escaping into HK as well as cross-border illegal activities, FCA was not allowed to enter or leave without a relevant entry permit which only permanent residents in FCA can obtain.

The historical span of the villages in FCA was changed since then. Development was stagnant due to the restricted communication with the outside world while Shenzhen, originally a small fishing village in the other side of the river, has risen into a metropolis. Even public services in FCA, such as medical services and transportation, are way behind other parts of Hong Kong.

Over 62 years, population in villages of FCA greatly decreased for people moved to cities in seeking of better development opportunities. “In the 1960s, 70s, there were over 1,000 households in my village. Now it has only 30,” said Lin Jinfu, 60s, a villager of Ma Tso Lung. “Most of the villagers are elderly people, just like me, living alone here,” he added.

On the other hand, thanks to their situation as closed areas, the villages enjoyed peace and serene in those days. “Doors and windows were open even when we were asleep for there was no such a thing as stealing in the villages. ” Lin Jinfu said.

Besides, natural resources in this area, such as forest and moor, are well-preserved. To take full use of the resources, HK government planned to make parts of FCA as the garden of the city and open to the public. A plan of reducing the FCA from 2800 ha to 400 ha was announced by the government in 2006.

According to the plan, two thirds of the villages in FCA will open through three stages – 2012, 2013 and 2015. On June 10 this year, a total of 6 villages were open, among them are Ma Tso Lung, Lok Pok, Shun Yee San Tsuen and so on.

At the point of their opening, people flocked into the villages to take a look at those untouched villages. Among the visitors, cyclists are the majority who want to enjoy the natural beauty of this bordering area.

To some people, the real assets of this area are the people living there, along with their old-day memories. History students frequently visit the residents in those villages and record the old stories.

Due to their special location, the villages in FCA experienced the time when vast Chinese mainlanders escaping into Hong Kong from starvation in Mainland China. In 1960s, many villagers helped the escapers to settle in Hong Kong. And a village called Shun Yee San Tsuen was established in Ma Tso Lung. Shelters were built and the escapers settled down. The statue built to memorize this history can still be seen in Ma Tso Lung nowadays.

It is hard to predict what changes will bring to the villages this time after their re-opening. “We do not see much change yet besides more visitors. The concerns of opening may be security issues. We want to have the secure and peaceful life as usual,” said Lin Zhijin, a Ma Tso Lung villager.