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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and the written reply by the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Leo Kwan, in the Legislative Council today (November 28):

Question :

It is learnt that the Administration plans to grant a piece of land which is situated in Area 6B of Sheung Shui and adjacent to Blocks 4 and 5 of Tsui Lai Garden to the United Muslim Association of Hong Kong for constructing a mosque and a school mainly targeted at children of ethnic minorities. The plan has aroused strong opposition from local residents. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) of the history and latest progress of the above plan;

(b) of the reasons for residents opposing the plan and the actions taken to explain the plan to the local residents and allay their sentiments against it;

(c) how they deal with the problem of children of ethnic minorities being deprived of schooling because of the delay in the plan; and

(d) whether they have sought legal advice on whether the incident has involved racial or religious discrimination; if they have sought such advice, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) In February 1997, the United Muslim Association of Hong Kong (UMAH), a registered charitable organisation, requested the Government to grant a piece of land in the New Territories for the Association to build a mosque and other community facilities. Policy support was given by the Home Affairs Bureau in April 1997. UMAH's proposed project included the provision of a mosque, an Islamic centre, a residential care home for the elderly, a clinic and an international primary school.

Based on UMAH's proposed project requirements, the Government conducted a site search in August 1997. As a result, the site in Area 6B, Sheung Shui was identified as suitable for UMAH's proposed project. The UMAH then submitted a development proposal to Lands Department in April 1998. Since then, the Lands Department has been processing UMAH's application for the grant of land in accordance with established procedures and in consultation with the relevant Government departments. These include scrutinising details of the proposed project by the relevant Government departments and local consultations. In April 2001, the UMAH submitted a revised development proposal to Lands Department. The application is still under consideration. The Administration will continue to make concerted efforts in dealing with the application.

(b) The North District Office began to consult residents on the plan in 1998 and has arranged a number of meetings with government departments and the United Muslim Association of Hong Kong for residents, District Council members, as well as the relevant rural committees and villages so as to collect the residents' views and to try to resolve possible misunderstandings and other problems through discussion.

Previous contacts with residents revealed that the residents were mainly opposed to the proximity of the proposed site to Tsui Lai Garden and the possible traffic problems from the increased pedestrain flow upon completion of the mosque. In addition, residents considered that Area 6B was not large enough for all the proposed uses including the school and the home for the elderly. They also considered that a youth centre or a child care centre would better cater for residents' needs.

At the North District Council meeting as well as meetings with District Council members, the representatives of the Planning Department explained the principles and procedures of the site search, pointing out that Area 6B was identified through a detailed selection process. The representatives of the Planning Department and Lands Department also met with residents and discussed issues of concern such as transport and other related facilities. They pointed out to the residents that these issues would be addressed during the study of the detailed plan of the mosque project.

(c) Under the existing policy, all eligible local children, including non-Chinese speaking children of ethnic minorities, are entitled to nine-year free and universal education. It is the Government's goal to integrate children of the ethnic groups who wish to settle permanently in Hong Kong into the local community and our mainstream education system. Sufficient school places are provided for them. The performance pledge of the Education Department is to arrange admission of these children to public sector schools up to Secondary 3 within 21 working days. Placement assistance is also provided for children seeking admission to Secondary 4 level or above.

(d) Residents of Tsui Lai Garden have indicated clearly that they do not oppose the construction of the mosque out of racial or religious considerations. Their worry is that the mosque, being too close to their estates, will create heavy pedestrian flow and traffic. At present, there is no objective evidence to show that the residents' opinions are related to racial or religious discrimination. As the incident does not involve legal issues, we consider it unnecessary to seek legal advice.

End/Wednesday, November 28, 2001

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