The Buildings Department has been urged to investigate whether illegal structures, especially the basement, at Leung Chun-ying's house existed before he bought it to clear any doubt over any possible liability he faces.
If the additions were built after Leung bought the house in 2000, this could lead to the same criminal liability facing Henry Tang Ying-yen's wife, who is the centre of a probe over the 'underground palace' at her Kowloon Tong house.
Hui Siu-wai, Deputy Director of Buildings, said yesterday staff who inspected Leung's two houses at No4 Peel Rise, The Peak, were unable to determine whether the infringements existed before or after Leung moved in.
'We made some observations, drew up some graphs and took photos. We still need to analyse these,' Hui said.
The 240 sq ft basement beneath a parking space at House 5 is divided into a few rooms.
During a media tour led by Leung himself last night, the chief executive-elect said most of the illegal structures existed before he bought the house: 'This is not a matter of credibility ... My place has always been open, and I never covered up anything, nor was I ever aware these were illegal structures.'
He added that he had hired a professional to inspect the houses before the purchase.