Thousands of protesters gathered for several days and weeks outside of HK’s LEGCO building in largely peaceful demonstrations against the construction of a high-speed rail link to Guangzhou.
The project is the most expensive rail project in the world (HK$66.9 billion) and would involve the needless destruction of countryside and villages in the New Territories, despite there already being rail and road links to the mainland city. Further, a new link would only cut the current two-hour journey time by around 20-30 minutes, as it would terminate 15 metro stations away from the city centre. In a prime example of unlected officials putting profit before people, the legistlation passed on 16.1.10 amdist heavy protest in the surrounding Statue Square in Central.
See the Wikipedia for more on the rail link and the impact of the ‘Post-80s‘ generation and their
Press stories:
- Hong Kong’s railway project stirs up heated debate
- Rail protesters condemned for ruining order
- HK leader condemns protesters
- Hundreds protest costly railway project in Hong Kong
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