Hong Kong’s leader vows to crack down on illegal structures after Post finds most homes in 3 luxury estates suspected of breaching rules

City leader John Lee says government has adopted risk-based approach in tackling problem, but dodged question on inspecting all upmarket detached houses

Post finds nearly 90 per cent of houses at Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak, Villa Rosa in Tai Tam and Seaview Villas in Tai Po are suspected to have unauthorised additions

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Block B of Flamingo Garden in Clear Water Bay, one of the locations where the Post found suspected unauthorised structures. Photo: May Tse

Published: 1:49pm, 6 Feb 2024Updated: 5:16pm, 6 Feb 2024

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to crack down on illegal structures across the city after a Post investigation found that an overwhelming majority of houses in three luxury estates were suspected of breaching building and land rules.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday responded to the Post’s findings when asked about the government’s progress in inspecting upmarket estates after a scandal emerged at Tai Tam’s Redhill Peninsula last September exposing the extent and dangers of unauthorised add-ons.

Acknowledging the large number of houses involved, Lee said the government had adopted a risk-based approach in tackling the problem.

“We will set priorities in accordance with the scale of the problem [and] the seriousness of the problem, particularly the safety consideration and environmental hazard consideration,” he said.

“We will set our priorities in this way so that we can address what we consider are the unauthorised illegal structures that deserve our early attention. We will continue to inspect and also take action in accordance with these priorities.”

But Lee dodged a question on whether he would consider inspecting all upmarket detached houses to show his administration’s determination in addressing the long-standing issue in Hong Kong.

During a month-long investigation, the Post found 74 per cent of the 50 houses in Block B of Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak, Villa Rosa in Tai Tam and Seaview Villas in Tai Po – valued at between HK$50 million (US$6.39 million) and HK$119 million each – were suspected of having enlarged their properties on public land without approval.