Secretary for Development Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Thursday that the Buildings Department has sent an advisory letter to the property owner of Chief Executive hopeful Henry Tang Ying-yen's villa at 7 York Road after confirming illegal building works on the property.

Lam said the Buildings Department will continue to survey actively whether the owner knowingly reserved space in the foundation, in order to construct a basement in the future and whether any materials submitted to the Buildings Department by persons responsible for the project filed misleading information.

Lam responded to doubts raised by media that Henry Tang's illegally constructed basement could have been built after the 2007 inspection as he himself said, but the house has a deeper foundation laid so as to prepare for the future illegal structure.

"In accordance with the Buildings Ordinance, any person who knowingly makes some preparation work for future illegal building, also commits an offence". Lam emphasized.

Lam added if any authorized person who knowingly provides the Buildings Department false plans or material, that is also a violation of the law.

Lam said the advisory letter has been sent as standard practice and the owner had submitted a report about remedial work program on the illegal building to the department on Wednesday.

"The owner has also already delegated an authorized person to deal with the illegal building, with whom the Buildings Department will get in touch to discuss remedial work," said Lam.

Moreover, the department will research whether the remedial program in the report is sufficient or not.

"Considering current developments, it is not necessary for us to issue the order of removal or to initiate a prosecution," added Lam.

Lam said, "The related research should get assistance from some people, including an authorized person, a registered structural engineer, a registered contractor, and also the owner himself."

The Buildings Department has already contacted professionals in these areas, who will also provide detailed materials to the department for the investigation.

After the initial investigation, the Buildings Department will let the Department of Justice to decide whether to prosecute or not.

fanfeifei@chinadailyhk.com

China Daily

(HK Edition 02/24/2012 page1)