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Gloomy outlook for Hong Kong’s hotel and catering sectors in Mid-Autumn holiday period

Hong Kong arts hub could tap private investors to finish building facilities: Bernard Chan

Could robot chefs be answer to staff shortages? Hong Kong team believes it has recipe for success

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Hong Kong society

Exposing Hong Kong’s invisible land grab

News

Hong Kong

Rich privilege? Post finds most homes at 3 luxury Hong Kong estates suspected of having enlarged properties without official approval

Block B of Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak. Photo: May Tse

Block B of Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak in Clear Water Bay. Photo: May Tse

Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam. Photo: May Tse

Villa Rosa is an upmarket estate in Tai Tam. Photo: May Tse

Seaview Villas in Tai Po. Photo: May Tse

Nearly 90 per cent of houses at Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak, Villa Rosa in Tai Tam and Seaview Villas in Tai Po have suspected unauthorised additions.


Exposing Hong Kong’s invisible land grab: why homeowners have few qualms breaking rules to build add-ons to luxury homes

Illustration: Victor Sanjinez

Flamingo Garden Block B at Clear Water Bay. Photo: May Tse

Seaview Villas in Tai Po Kau. Photo: May Tse

Villa Rosa in Tai Tam. Photo: May Tse

Liber Research Community member Brian Wong has pointed to the low-risk, high-return investment for owners, given the rare and lenient law enforcement actions in the past. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Lax enforcement, anaemic fines and tremendous financial rewards for rule-breakers have allowed the problem to fester, but experts say there is much the government can do.


Can Hong Kong ever quash the problem of homeowners building unauthorised structures on their expensive properties?

Houses in Tuen Mun. Adult male indigenous villagers are allowed to erect a house of up to 700 sq ft per floor on their land within a recognised New Territories village without having to pay a land-use conversion fee. Photo: Felix Wong

Unapproved structures were uncovered at Redhill Peninsula in Tai Tam last year. Photo: May Tse

Flamingo Garden Block B in Clear Water Bay, where the Post has uncovered suspected unauthorised structures. Photo: May Tse

Vincent Ho of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors says many homeowners paying out for unapproved additions are exploiting a loophole in the Buildings Ordinance. Photo: Edmond So

Villa Rosa in Tai Tam, where the Post has uncovered suspected unauthorised structures. Photo: Dickson Lee

Development minister Bernadette Linn earlier hinted at plans to entrust officers with the power to prosecute upon the discovery of illegal structures. Photo: Edmond So

Seaview Villas in Tai Po, where the Post has uncovered suspected unauthorised structures. Photo: May Tse

Having paid a high price for their property, some homeowners have every incentive to build unauthorised additions for their houses knowing enforcement can be lax.


In visuals: uncovering Hong Kong’s secret land grab

Unauthorised expansions to luxury homes across the city have triggered concerns over safety risks, unfairness and lax enforcement.


In a series of exclusive reports, the South China Morning Post uncovers the extent of unauthorised structures at luxury estates, investigates why, and more.
 


Series

Exposing Hong Kong’s invisible land grab

In a series of exclusive reports, the South China Morning Post uncovers the extent of unauthorised structures at luxury estates, investigates why, and more.

Exclusive | Post uncovers extent of unauthorised structures at luxury Hong Kong estates

Nearly 90 per cent of houses at Flamingo Garden on Kowloon Peak, Villa Rosa in Tai Tam and Seaview Villas in Tai Po have suspected unauthorised additions.

Exclusive | Exposing Hong Kong’s invisible land grab by owners of luxury homes

Lax enforcement, anaemic fines and tremendous financial rewards for rule-breakers have allowed the problem to fester, but experts say there is much the government can do.

Exclusive | Why Hong Kong can’t seem to go after homeowners with unauthorised structures

Having paid a high price for their property, some homeowners have every incentive to build unauthorised additions for their houses knowing enforcement can be lax.

Uncovering Hong Kong’s secret land grab at luxury estates

Unauthorised expansions to luxury homes across the city have triggered concerns over safety risks, unfairness and lax enforcement.