(CN -HKG) Cow sanctuary in trouble

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http://hongkong.scmp.com/hknews/ZZZ21LX6SGE.html

Thursday, January 12, 2006

 

Home eludes cows as keeper fails to find land

by ELLA LEE

 

Greener pastures will have to wait for more than 60 abandoned cows,

with the rejection of their guardian's application for government

land.

 

Au Yeung Sin-yu, better known as Yeung Yeung to friends, is

disappointed that her six-month fight to establish a final home for

the cows on government land in Lau Fau Shan has failed.

 

A Lands Department spokesman said the application was rejected in mid-

December for environment and hygiene reasons.

 

" That piece of land is not suitable for keeping cows. There is

opposition from local residents, " the spokesman said. Residents have

opposed the application, worried that the cows' droppings would

pollute their oyster farms.

 

For nine years, Ms Au Yeung has been rescuing abandoned cows from the

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department before being sent

to the slaughterhouse.

 

The animals, which once worked in the fields, became redundant after

the urban development of the New Territories swallowed up farmland.

 

Ms Au Yeung, a devout Buddhist, now keeps the cows on rented land in

Yuen Long that she calls the " Cows' Home " . But the lease will end in

about a month. She is trying to extend the lease.

 

" I have been fighting for a permanent home for these poor animals.

They worked hard for Hong Kong people, but they are now abandoned

like a piece of rubbish, " Ms Au Yeung said.

 

She said she had sold her flat and borrowed $1 million from friends

and relatives to finance her Cows' Home, which costs about $50,000 a

month to maintain.

 

Occasionally she sleeps on a broken chair at the farm and spends the

night with her animals. " I want to take care of the cows until the

last days of their lives, but things have been so hard for me, I feel

so helpless, " she said.

 

Ms Au Yeung is applying for another piece of land in Yuen Long. She

has also appealed for donations and volunteers to take care of the

cows. " It is very difficult to find workers in Hong Kong to take care

of the cows. Who will want to do such a hard job? "

 

She wants to hire workers from the mainland but must follow

procedures set by the Labour Department, which means she can hire a

mainland worker only if she cannot find one locally.

 

According to the Labour Department's median wage, she would have to

pay an imported worker $9,330 a month. " It is a big sum for me and I

need about three workers, I don't know how long I can afford this

salary, I hope some volunteers can help. "