Since December, members of the Ko family, who live in Shek Kong, Choi Yuen Tsuen, have been fighting to save their home and farmland.

The HK$39.5 billion cross-border express rail link between Guangzhou and Hong Kong will run right through it if government planners have their way.

But by the time the second round of consultation on the railway ends tomorrow, villagers will have collected about 10,000 signatures opposing plans for the railway.

Ko Hin, 81, who has lived in Shek Kong for 50 years, used to spend much of his time planting flowers and playing with his grandchildren, but in the past few months he has been working with neighbours trying to stop ground investigation work in the village.

Mr Ko's daughter, Ko Chun-heung, 47, said she has considered giving up her sales business, as it left her too busy to contact government departments and work with the local action group. Her niece, Chimmy Chan Hoi-shan, 31, said she has spent most of her free time studying alternative options for the railway.

Even Ko Nga-fong, 10, helped while her school was closed by buying snacks for older family members who were collecting signatures.

The government started consulting district councils, the Heung Yee Kuk and relevant rural committees about the railway in May last year.

The proposed alignment of the express rail link was gazetted last December. Some villagers, including Mr Ko, had no idea they would be affected by the railway until the outer wall of his house was marked with white paint by a government official that month.

"This land raised my six children. I don't want to move to other housing," said Mr Ko, who bought the land 50 years ago. "I don't want to pay rent, I don't know how to take a lift and I don't know how to get around outside this village."

Yau Kai-wun, 76, has also lived in the village for more than 50 years.

"The government has not told me anything about compensation," he said. "I have no idea what is going on. I really don't want to move, I don't know how to use a lift. I don't want to move to somewhere I don't know the name of my neighbour."

The village of about 500 people came to prominence after a standoff with officials from the Lands Department and MTR Corporation when staff wanted to enter the village to conduct ground investigation work.

Under the current proposal, Choi Yuen Tsuen will make way for a rescue station and railway sidings.

The Choi Yuen Tsuen Concern Group, convened by Ms Ko, put forward alternative proposals, such as using open space, car parks or abandoned building sites around the village, or moving the project to the nearby Shek Kong Barracks.

"There are few households living in our area; why must the rescue station be located at our village?" Ms Ko said.

But the government said alternative plans would affect more households, and dismissed the possibility that the People's Liberation Army garrison would allow its barracks site to be switched to non-military use.

Ms Ko and Ms Chan are not convinced. However, not all villagers are as determined as Mr Yau and the Ko family. Gurung Tara Bahader, 21, a Nepali living in the village with his parents, is waiting for other options.

"If we are going to be moved, it will be okay because we are only renting the house," he said. I support the villagers, as they are fighting for their rights, but I also understand the government wants the land."

Government officials are expected to meet villagers today. Construction is scheduled to start this year.