'173 villas have problems'

Police and administrative officials showed up at luxury house No 74 on Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam with a court warrant to check for unauthorized structures.

It came after the Lands Department confirmed three adjacent luxury houses, Nos 70, 72 and 74, have unlawfully occupied government lands, while Nos 70 and 72 were found with illegal structures.

Buildings and land officers arrived at the housing estate at 10am yesterday, and inspected the unauthorized construction at house No 74, accompanied by the police.

They were seen inspecting the slope on the hillside facing the sea, taking measurements and photographs from the garden.

At about 2pm, a group of workers continued stabilization work around the slope where a landslide occurred last week, but which is now covered by concrete.

A large scaffolding had been installed in the garden of house No 70, which had almost disappeared due to the landslide.

Meanwhile, Liber Research Community member Chan Kim-ching questioned whether a legal vacuum existed in districts with detached houses, as his research group found that at least 173 villas across Hong Kong have unauthorized structures and have incorporated government land.

Chan said on radio that they compared the satellite map and the official land plans of eight estates in Mid-Levels, Southern District and Clear Water Bay, and found some of the government land was rebuilt as gardens without permission.

"It is not just a matter of whether they are illegal or not, it is about whether they may pose risks to public safety," he said.

In addition to Redhill Peninsula, where a majority of houses have occupied government land, Chan said houses in Villa Rosa, Tai Tam were also found to have similar problems.

"In fact, law abiders are a minority. More than eight in 10 detached houses in many housing estates are occupying government land."

Many owners have incorporated government slopes along the seaside, which pose higher risks, as the slope would be destabilized by typhoons or rainstorms, he noted.

Chan said that the three affected houses have occupied government land for at least 13 years, and it should not be difficult to notice, as the researchers could finish reviewing photos of the eight estates in three days. However, they had not been dealt with despite the administration having the resources and manpower.

"Have these places become enclaves where the residents enjoy standards that are different from the general public?" he asked.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com