Wang Chau (Yuen Long)

Kai Shan, a hill in Wang Chau

Yu Yuen, in Tung Tau Wai, Wang Chau

Wang Chau (橫洲) is an area of Yuen Long District, Hong Kong, located west of the Shan Pui River.

Long Ping Estate is a mixed public/TPS estate in Wang Chau.

Sights

Several monuments are located in Wang Chau, including:

• I Shing Temple (二聖宮), in Tung Tau Wai (東頭圍). Built in 1718, it is dedicated to Hung Shing and Che Kung.^[1] It was declared a monument in June 1996.^[2]
• Yu Yuen, in Tung Tau Wai, was built in 1927 as a summer villa.^[3][4] It is listed as a Grade I Historic Building.
• Tin Hau Temple in Ng Uk Village (吳屋村). It was rebuilt in 1981.^[5]

Transportation

Wang Chau is located between the Tin Shui Wai and Long Ping stations of the MTR.

Public housing program controversy

Within days of the 2016 legislative elections and the decisive victory of Eddie Chu in the New Territories West constituency, Chu made allegations that the government was in collusion with business interests, rural kingpins and Triads about the planned development of public housing on the Wang Chau site.^[6] Although CY Leung initially attempted to blame Financial Secretary John Tsang and Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, leaked internal government meeting minutes directly implicated CY Leung in a decision to defer to the interests of Heung Yee Kuk leaders by scaling down the planned housing development in Wang Chau from 13,000 units to 4000 units, razing a greenfield site whilst avoiding brownfield site illegally occupied by the Chairman of the rural committee in Shap Pat Heung.^[7][8]

On 21 September 2016, the government held a press conference responding to recent concerns over the public housing program in Wang Chau. Chief Executive CY Leung stated that it was his decision to implement the first phase of the program in which 4,000 units would be provided.^[9]

References

1. "I Shing Temple, Wang Chau, Yuen Long - Declared Monuments - Antiquities and Monuments Office".
2. Environment Protection Department - List of Declared Monuments as on 1 January 1999 Archived October 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
3. Introduction to 1444 Historic Buildings, p.336 Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
4. Chan, King-lok, "A neglected heritage typology in the New Territories: the Western-Chinese eclectic style rural buildings of the early 20th century", University of Hong Kong, 2008
5. Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment, p.10-6
6. "'I will not back down': Eddie Chu defiant after police arrest six over death threats".
7. "Revealed: decision behind Wang Chau rural housing scandal reaches very top of Hong Kong government".
8. "Wang Chau saga might prove CY Leung's undoing". 21 September 2016.
9. "CE explains Wang Chau plan". Hong Kong's Information Services Department. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.

Coordinates: 22°27′08″N 114°01′09″E / 22.452204°N 114.019068°E