Bugs were found in the walls and fixtures of living and sleeping areas, bathrooms and in a guest suite, and in upstairs areas that were once used by Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, an aide to presumptive chief executive Donald Tsang has told The Standard.

The bugs were uncovered during renovation work that involved cutting into walls, said the source.

It is not known who bugged the mansion, or if any of the devices still work.

``Surprisingly we found numerous bugs in the bedrooms upstairs at Government House,'' said the aide. ``We are still figuring out who these bugs belong to.''

It is not the first time suspicion has been raised about listening devices in government buildings. Immediately after the 1997 handover, the Prince of Wales army barracks was suspected to have been bugged by the British and a cleaning operation was carried out. The presence of bugs in Government House has been known for some time, the source said - and in fact was the reason the former chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, refused to live there despite his long-standing explanation that bad feng shui kept him out.

``Rumors about Tung's refusal to take up residence at Government House due to bad feng shui were all nonsense. It was the warning about these spying devices that scared him away,'' said the Tsang aide.

A senior Security Bureau source insisted that any bugs inside the mansion have been put there since 1997. Government House, the source said, was thoroughly swept for eavesdropping devices after the handover.

``If there are bugs there now, that is news to me,'' said the Security Bureau source.

The acting chief executive's office declined to comment, saying only that renovation is underway and that the historic status of Government House would be respected. Tsang, expecting to be swept into office in July, has stated his desire to turn the historic Upper Albert Road mansion into his working home and office.

``I cannot see any other option for the moment [and] for security and operational reasons,'' Tsang told a television interviewer Sunday.

But Tsang will not be able to move in until early next year, said the source, because the bugs have to be eradicated first.

Security was a major concern for the British, particularly in the governor's study downstairs, where secure meetings were held. The heavy door leading to the study had a combination lock.

An independent commission that drew up new rules for chief executives last week recommended that Government House revert to the official residence of Hong Kong leaders, as it was for colonial governors.

Chief executives who decline to move into the house must pay for their own accommodation.

Owing to the expected postponement, Tsang will extend his stay at home and his prospective right-hand man for the post of chief secretary for administration, Rafael Hui, will retain his privately rented 5,000 square foot Leighton Hill Lodge residence.

carrie.chan2@singtaonewscorp,com

Marcal Joanilho contributed to this report

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