Hong Kong villagers battle to save renowned stilt huts

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TAI O, Hong Kong (Reuters) -- Hong Kong housewife Wong Wai-king has written a book to record the affection she feels for her village of Tai O.

"Tai O is the place I love best. The scenery is so beautiful here," said the 42-year-old.

Sometimes referred to as the Venice of Hong Kong, the quiet fishing village is isolated on the west of one of the territory's islands, away from the bustling skyscrapers of the financial center.

But now Wong, and her neighbors, fear that centuries of heritage could be changed forever under plans being mooted by the Hong Kong government.

Under the plan, two thirds of Tai O's stilted houses -- the hallmark of the district which attracts 30,000 tourists a year -- would be torn down to make way for anchorage for boats, an entrance plaza and a folk museum.

The plan has unsettled the local people of Tai O, who fear the loss of the stilted homes would wipe away 300 years of heritage and change the character of the village.

The local councilor for the district which includes Tai O, Lee Chi-fung, said he believed the stilted homes would remain.

"I don't think the government will pull down the stilt huts," he said.

But the residents are more skeptical and have vowed to preserve their houses intact.

Concern over the loss of stilted huts deepened when a fire destroyed 90 stilted homes in July, shortly after the government unveiled its plan. Residents are now battling to rebuild the homes and rallying to raise money for it.

The village, home to more than 2,000, is in the west of Hong Kong's largest island of Lantau, also the location of one of the world's largest and most modern airports, Chek Lap Kok.

Tai O boasts a host of ancient Chinese temples and is renowned for salted fish and shrimp paste, distinctive ingredients in Chinese cooking.

"There's harmony. The people are nice and simple. They are close together and help each other," said Tai O-born computer engineer Stanley Chan. Chan works on Hong Kong island but spends his holidays in Tai O.

"It is not the money that matters, but the love we have built inside," said 35-year-old Fan Wing-on, whose hut was destroyed by the blaze.

Contemplating the remains of his family home and four fishing boats, an elderly fishermen said: "Five generations of our family have lived here."

The Hong Kong government plan suggests that the number of tourists would rise to as many as 600,000 if the redevelopment goes ahead.

It agrees that the stilted huts are an integral part of the village but says some need to be pulled down to improve drainage.

"The director of planning has repeatedly said the revitalization plan will try to preserve as many stilt huts as possible. ... We agree stilt huts are a tourist attraction and a local heritage," a spokeswoman for the planning department said.

The debate over the future of Tai O will carry into next year.

The planning department plans further consultation documents, but the residents will maintain their vigil as the keepers of the village's heritage.

"The stilt huts are the hallmark of Tai O, part of our culture. How can you destroy historic values and local culture to match development of a foreign style?" 28-year-old Chan asked.

"To tear down the stilt huts will change the feel of Tai O. The new design has problems. The concept is commercial," Wong said.

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