The Democratic Party leadership is looking into newspaper reports that three district councillors have been paying above-market rent on an office - the bill for which is picked up by taxpayers. The allegations were levelled against district councillors John Tse Wing-ling and Bonson Li Hing-wai, of Wan Chai District, and Mark Li Kin-yin, of Eastern District, by the Oriental Daily News and The Sun. Democratic Party chairman Lee Wing-tat said the party was waiting for a report from the three, who had promised to give the leadership an explanation today. 'We are looking into the matter. But according to Mark Li, nothing improper happened and the rent was approved by the government,' Mr Lee said. 'If any laws had been broken, they would already have been prosecuted.' The three Democrats could not be contacted for comment. The newspapers alleged the three jointly rented part of an office from party member Chan Wing-hung from January 1998 to December 1999. Part of the Wan Chai property had also been used as a property agency. The reports said the three claimed on their district council expenses a total of $358,000 for the period - about $15,000 a month. The reports quoted market sources as saying the monthly rent for the property did not exceed $11,000. Mr Lee said it was difficult to have a uniform valuation of the rent level and said it would be virtually impossible for members to engage property surveyors before renting every office. In February, Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun was suspended from his party post for six months over a similar case.