Owners of Hong Kong mansions should propose ways to fix damaged government slope or risk paying ‘astronomical’ costs, government adviser warns

Executive Council member Ronny Tong urges luxury homeowners in Tai Tam to take initiative in proposing how government slope they occupied should be repaired

‘It’s better for them to negotiate with the government than drag out the issue,’ he says

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Part of the slope at Redhill Peninsula estate collapsed after the record rainfall last week. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 10:54pm, 13 Sep 2023Updated: 4:32pm, 15 Sep 2023

A top government adviser has urged the owners of three luxury homes in Hong Kong to propose ways to repair a government slope they occupied and which was damaged by a landslide during a record downpour last week.

The owners at Redhill Peninsula estate in Tai Tam might otherwise be forced to bear “astronomical” construction costs, Ronny Tong Ka-wah warned on Wednesday.

“The law isn’t on their side,” said Tong, a member of the key decision-making Executive Council. “It’s better for them to negotiate with the government than drag out the issue. They may end up in a very disadvantaged position and have to bear high construction costs, as well as legal fees.”

The properties at No 70, 72 and 74 at Redhill Peninsula were damaged by the landslide triggered by the record-breaking downpour last week. Photo: Sam Tsang

Illegal structures were found at two of the properties and government workers were due to inspect the third after the owner forced authorities to obtain a court warrant to access the entire premises.

Tong advised the owners to ask contractors for proposals to repair the damage to the slope or be prepared to face a higher bill decided by authorities.

“The cost for fixing the slope could be astronomical and the affected owners may need to bear the construction cost if their illegal structures have contributed to the landslide,” he said.

“Instead of letting the government conduct the remedial works, which might be more expensive after the tender process, it may be better for them to hire their own contractors and come up with a cheaper proposal and negotiate with the government.