Authorities conduct forced clearance at Mission Hill

The Lands Department carried out a forced demolition and clearance operation at Shek Kip Mei's Mission Hill.

This came after some individuals unlawfully occupied areas of the government land by placing recreational facilities for the use of neighbouring residents.

The clearance operation began on Monday morning. Workers placed removed materials and items in trollies.

A large pile of objects are seen in the area. Officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department were there to supervise the operation.

One woman was angry about the clearance as she yelled at the Lands Department's officers, saying they were "unreasonable" and asked "How had the objects created obstruction?"

The woman later retrieved some seized items from workers. She later explained to the media that the site's purpose was to provide a stress-release space for the public, which had cost her at least a million dollars to set up.

But the clearance operation did not prevent some residents from playing table tennis.

Some wished the government wouldn't take back the land because the space had turned into a popular exercise location that is used by more than hundreds of residents every day - amid the lack of government recreational facilities.

Those who supported the government's action said the operation could stop people from taking up the entire hill, adding that the size of the occupied area had been expanding over the years.

As for the table tennis facility, the Lands Department said the removal decision would be down to Sham Shui Po District Management Committee.