Hong Kong orders removal of illegal structures from luxury homes

HONG Kong authorities have ordered owners of four houses at a luxury residential estate to remove unauthorised structures that were exposed by a landslide.

Some residents of Redhill Peninsula in Hong Kong’s Tai Tam district were evacuated after record rains caused a landslide and brought to light the possibility of illegal structures. Restoration works must be completed within 150 days and authorities may prosecute owners who fail to comply with the orders, the government said in a statement on Friday (Sep 22).

In addition, about 70 houses at the estate are suspected to have unauthorised structures and 40 may be illegally occupying government land, according to the statement. Authorities launched a “large-scale joint operation” and will apply for warrants to enter the houses for inspection and collection of evidence if necessary, it said.

The revelations have dominated local media coverage in recent weeks. While illegal structures have been a longstanding issue, the scale of the landslide and speculation about the identities of the homeowners have attracted public interest.

Unauthorised building works are often a hot topic in Hong Kong, with wealthy residents and government officials sometimes involved in related controversies. In general, illegal building works involve any additions or alterations made to the interior or exterior without prior approval of the Buildings Department. BLOOMBERG