A convicted child molester has returned to the clubhouse where he committed his crime on an almost daily basis since being released from prison late last month.
Yik Seal-hung, 55, was spotted by the Sunday Morning Post in the clubhouse at the Laguna Verde development in Hung Hom on consecutive days last week.
His return comes despite a campaign to have him banned from the place in whose changing room he molested a 12-year-old boy in July 2007. Mr Yik was sentenced to 20 months in jail for the incident.
Sources at the estate say he visits the clubhouse almost daily but estate manager Goodwell Property Management, a subsidiary of Cheung Kong (Holdings), maintains it is unable to do anything to prevent his return.
'Goodwell is primarily concerned with maintaining the safety and comfort of residents of the estate,' the company said. 'However, we can only carry out duties which are in accordance with the deed of mutual covenant, the Building Management Ordinance and the resolution of the estate owners' committee.
'In regards to the issue of the returned convicted child molester to Laguna Verde, we have duly acted in accordance with ... our legal advice and the decision of the estate owners' committee.'
Goodwell's legal advice was from solicitors Chung & Kwan. 'The answer is no,' the lawyers said. 'Nothing in the [deed of mutual covenant] of the estate, nor the Building Management Ordinance, gives you any power to prohibit such owner from entering or using the clubhouse.'
