A rural leader who ran a private zoo and park partly on government land in Yuen Long for 18 years may be taken to court.
But Lands Department chief Annie Tam Kam-lan admitted yesterday that the prolonged occupation could be due to a blunder by one of the department's staff.
She told lawmakers the case had been referred to the Department of Justice, which would decide whether to press criminal charges.
In the light of the scandal, the authorities were looking into reviewing the rules and penalties governing land permits, the lawmakers were told.
The claim of illegal land use was denied by Leung Fuk-yuen, one of two directors of the recreational park.
Leung, chairman of the Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee and a Yuen Long district councillor, said the land had belonged to his ancestors.