By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-10 06:21:29 | Updated at 2025-01-10 11:05:05
4 hours ago
Hong Kong’s Legal Aid Department has rejected an activist’s application for financial assistance, hindering his attempt to lodge a judicial review against the government’s approval of an environmental impact study on the San Tin Techopole project, the Post has learned.
Social worker Eddie Tse Sai-kit told the Post on Friday that his application to the department, which would have covered the cost of filing the legal challenge over the proposed innovation and technology (I&T) park in the Northern Metropolis, had been rejected by the government agency.
“I am still considering whether to proceed with the process,” he said.
As the department would not grant him financial assistance to cover lawyers’ fees, Tse would have to pay for the legal proceedings out of his own pocket if he chose to continue with the challenge.
The mega development of Northern Metropolis aims to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land in the New Territories, close to the city’s border with the mainland, into an economic powerhouse and housing centre.
The government has pledged to press ahead with the technopole project despite the judicial challenge, with Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs Xia Baolong calling on business leaders to support the city’s long-term blueprint by participating in the Northern Metropolis development.
The mega development is divided into four zones focusing on high-end professional services and logistics, innovation and technology, commerce and industry, as well as recreation and conservation.
