Exclusive | Have luxury Hong Kong estates made changes a year after Post exposed land grab?

Only a quarter of homeowners at three upmarket Hong Kong estates exposed by a Post investigation have ceased occupying public land a year after the findings were published, while about 10 per cent have demolished their unauthorised structures.

Experts said owners could have reasonable excuses for the delays, as they might be in the appeals process, awaiting approval for plans or relocating tenants.

But the specialists urged the government to further step up enforcement over the suspected illegal use of land and increase penalties, in addition to a proposed amendment to the Buildings Ordinance targeting unauthorised structures. A consultation period over the changes to the ordinance ended on Friday last week.

Authorities told the Post they would issue warning letters, or consider prosecution, for cases involving homeowners who dragged their feet in carrying out rectifications to their properties at Block B of Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak, Seaview Villas in Tai Po and Villa Rosa in Tai Tam.

In February last year, the Post found that nearly 90 per cent of the 50 houses – valued at between HK$50 million (US$6.39 million) and HK$119 million each – in the three estates were suspected of having unauthorised additions at or near their properties. Some of these additions were built on government-owned slopes.

Following the Post’s investigation, the Lands Department eventually issued statutory notices requiring the cessation of occupation and the removal of structures on public land to 34 of the 50 houses.