Top cop's roof problem covered

Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung did not turn a blind eye to unauthorized building work at the Kowloon Tong penthouse he rented, the force claimed.

Tang moved out after informing the landlord of an illegal structure, the police said in a statement issued at 3am yesterday, but the landlord failed to rectify it.

This came after an Apple Daily report said the Boland Court flat on Broadcast Drive came with a rooftop that involved unauthorized work.

A police spokesman said the content of the report deviated from facts as Tang did not ignore the illegal structure.

"Tang rented the unit in 2016 and subsequently received a notification from the buildings department in 2017 that there were unauthorized building works on the rooftop that must be removed," he said.

"Tang immediately informed the owner of the removal order and requested he handle it. Nevertheless, the owner has not complied with the order. Hence [Tang] moved out of the unit in June [last year]."

Meanwhile, 10 Lands Department officers headed to the village house of assistant police commissioner Rupert Dover to investigate the alleged operation of bed and breakfast lodgings in breach of housing rules.

Dover admitted the officials after inspecting their staff cards and was beside the team as they measured the house and took pictures.

Next Magazine and Apple Daily suggested two houses in Pik Shui Sun Tsuen in Clear Water Bay linked to Dover and his wife may have breached housing rules.

The houses were built on government land under a license allowing only the original licensee and family to live there. One house was allegedly turned into a bed-and-breakfast operation without a guesthouse license.

Dover has said the licensee is a relative of his wife and he will cooperate with investigations.

Dover has been in the force for more than three decades and was in the public eye during anti-fugitive bill protest action last year.

As his home was being inspected, the new civil service secretary, Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, was under fire in his first appearance in a public service panel meeting.

Pan-democratic lawmakers brought up allegations against senior police officers regarding properties.

Kwok Ka-ki of the Civic Party said he believed some non-Chinese officers broke the law and asked Nip whether his bureau would look into the allegations.

Nip said: "Depending on the circumstances and the details of the cases, some are being handled by departments and bureaus, and some may be handled by the civil service bureau."