Unannounced work to remove rooftop tiles on a rare Chinese-style mansion has sparked concerns from conservationists that the 71-year-old house might soon be pulled down.
The move came to light two months after reports that the house, King Yin Lei, had been sold for HK$450 million, which its owner, businessman Stephen Yow Mok-shing, refused to verify.
King Yin Lei, on Stubbs Road in Mid-Levels, overlooking the Happy Valley racecourse and Victoria Harbour, is one of the city's oldest and best-preserved mixed-style private residences.
However, it has not been included in a government list of historical buildings.
Conservationists, who have been campaigning for preservation of the building, noticed that workers were removing green tiles from the mansion's rooftop.
They are worried that the heritage value of the mansion would be damaged by the work, which they fear might be under way to pave the way for demolition.
The Buildings Department said yesterday no application for alteration or demolition work had been submitted.