Green light for inspectors to search villas

The Buildings Department will inspect No 74 Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam today after obtaining a court warrant to enter the house and other villas in the luxury estate, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said.

The department applied for a warrant after building officers were stopped from inspecting suspected unauthorized structures in the premises on Tuesday.

After two of the three villas affected by the landslide last week, Nos 70 and 72, were found to have unauthorized building works and occupying government land, building officers were finally allowed inside No 74, whose owner, former HSBC Asia-Pacific marketing head Yuen Wai-ming, is believed to be currently out of Hong Kong.

But they weren't allowed to inspect some parts of the house, so the department had to apply for a warrant to enter relevant places to inspect suspected illegal constructions that pose danger.

Linn yesterday afternoon said they had obtained the warrants and would inspect the house today along with other detached houses.

In addition, Lands Department officers confirmed Tuesday night that all three houses are illegally occupying government land, after reviewing aerial photos and original house lot plans.

The department vowed to take action.

"The occupier may be prosecuted if [they do] not cease the unlawful occupation as required by a notice under the [land] ordinance," it said. The department added that a contractor has started emergency slope maintenance work on Tuesday.

Construction workers were seen installing scaffolding on the slope opposite house No 70 yesterday, and spraying concrete at the bottom of the swimming pool of No 72, which was overhanging without any soil support.

"Subject to weather condition, the contractor expects to complete the more critical parts of the work within a few days and complete all work by later this month," the Lands Department said.

Speaking on radio yesterday, former president of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Vincent Ho Kui-yip said owners shall be responsible for the cost of government engineering work that would result from the unauthorized structures.

Slope-stabilization work there is estimated to cost at least HK$1 million, said Kevin Tang, structural division chairman of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.

Ho also said concrete spraying would temporarily prevent soil from absorbing water or further sliding, and that engineers should decide whether soil retaining or other landslide prevention methods should be carried out as long-term measures.

As low-density detached houses are usually in remote areas and surrounded by government land such as green belt, it is common for owners occupying government land to enlarge their living areas, he added.

"But the authorities may have difficulties in inspecting and taking enforcement actions as those illegal structures are not noticeable."

Chris Lee Tsz-leung, former chairman of the institution's geotechnical division, said the unauthorized building work might pose danger to the public and urged the government to step up enforcement and raise penalties for violations.

Structural engineer Liu Yuk-shing suggested that reinforcement for the soil below the affected houses, which are covered by concrete, should be prioritized, to avoid potential safety risks. He reached the conclusion after viewing the estate from the opposite side on Shek O Road yesterday.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com