Most unauthorized work removal orders not followed after landslide at Redhill

Stacy Shi

Only eight out of 72 removal orders for unauthorized building works at the luxury housing estate Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam have been followed, after a landslide caused by last September's once-in-a-century rainfall.

According to the Development Bureau's statistics, as of the end of last month, only 42 cases with removal orders have shown substantial progress, while another 27 cases are currently being appealed.

The outstanding removal orders include those issued to the four waterfront houses affected by the landslide - No 70, 72, 74, and 76 - which had "serious unauthorized building works" on the premises.

House No 100 had the most outstanding removal orders, with four issued between October 2021 and last December. House No 44 had three outstanding orders issued between November 2020 and last December.

Former Geotechnical Engineering Office director Raymond Chan Kin-sek said it commonly takes over a year to comply with removal orders due to the complicated procedures.

Owners need to appoint registered professionals to inspect, plan construction, and submit to the Buildings Department for review, which can already take several months, he said.

Chan suggested the department should step up enforcement and publicity to encourage owners to take the orders more seriously, as they may face heavy penalties for ignoring them.

With the approaching rain season, Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors' building policy sub-committee chairman Kenny Tse Chi-kin warned of increased landslide risks, as many unauthorized structures remain.

He said the stability of these structures after years of weathering is unclear.

Chan also said the government should not leave the slope unattended after the emergency maintenance works, but it should conduct permanent repair works.

Replying to The Standard's sister newspaper Sing Tao Daily, the Civil Engineering and Development Department said they have eliminated immediate slope risks and inspected other nearby government slopes, finding no irregularities.