Illegal structures found at second Hong Kong luxury home, after landslide from rainstorm triggers evacuation of nearby house with unsafe additions
- Authorities earlier discovered illegal structures at house No 72 at Redhill Peninsula following landslide after record rainfall, before finding additions at No 70
- Landlord of third property agrees to let Buildings Department officers inspect premises from Tuesday, after earlier denying them access
The Buildings Department in the evening said the landlord of a third property, house No 74, at Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam had agreed to let government officers enter the premises on Tuesday morning. The department earlier said it had planned to apply for a court warrant to inspect the house after the occupants denied the employees access for their investigation.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Sunday confirmed authorities had found illegal structures at house No 72 that unlawfully occupied government land.
The property was one of three residences, which included No 70 and 74, damaged by the landslide following record rainfall over Thursday night and Friday.
The government on Monday said a further inspection by Buildings Department and Geotechnical Engineering Office employees suggested house No 70 also had illegal structures.
“A five-by-13-metre [16.4-by-42.6-foot] unauthorised structure was found on the lowest podium of house No 70. A five-by-six-metre basement was also found behind it,” the department said.
It noted there was no need to seal the house off given it posed no obvious risk to the building’s overall structure or a retaining wall along the slope, but occupants were told to temporarily fence off their outdoor swimming pool over safety concerns.