This article was first published on June 28, 1996.
Rennie’s Mill residents win battle for damages
by Cliff Buddle and Ng Kang-chung
Rennie’s Mill residents won their marathon battle with the Government yesterday (June 27, 1996) when a judge ruled they had been treated unfairly and must be paid damages.
Mr Justice Raymond Sears said the Government abused its powers by breaching a 35-year-old promise to allow the refugees to stay at the Tseung Kwan O site indefinitely.
But the residents were told they must finally bid an emotional farewell to their homes to make way for development.
The community was built by Kuomintang refugees in the 1950s and described in court as a symbol of freedom all over the world. It will be “obliterated” next month and replaced by new tower blocks.
The level of damages to be paid to the 400 people still occupying homes at Rennie’s Mill has not been settled.