Hong Kong has a problem with luxury squatters

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A official probe is underway into allegations that a swathe of specially protected Hong Kong Island coastline has been developed illegally by wealthy investors including a former senior government official.

Development chief Paul Chan Mo-po said the investigation –into a stretch of coastline equivalent to the size of 19 basketball courts or more than 89,000 square feet of government land – would be carried out without fear or favour.

“I have already instructed the Lands Department to look into this issue. No matter who are involved, whatever their backgrounds are, what did they did in the past, we will handle and follow up in accordance with the law in a serious manner,” said Secretary for Development Chan.

Chan’s remarks came after reports that former assistant commissioner for labour Mak Sai-yiu, who retired from the civil service in 1996, has been living in Tung Ah Pui Village in Tai Tam Bay since 1981.

Mak lives in a single-storey house with a garden, dock, and even a beach. The property covers 9,700 square feet of government land. The former civil servant and other occupants in the village have reportedly turned squatter huts into luxurious residences.

Mak said the land he occupied belonged to the government, adding that he bought the structure from a villager in the 1980s.

Asked if he thought he was breaking the law, Mak said: “I don’t think so. What law am I breaking? If I was (breaking the law), the government would definitely (send people) here.”

He said he had not rebuilt the structure he bought, only improved it.

The Lands Department said investigations were underway into the possible unauthorised extension of registered huts in Tung Ah Pui Village.

Land Justice League founder and activist Chu Hoi-dick said the government allowed squatter hut registrations up till officials carried out a squatter hut occupancy survey in early 1980s and that regulations in the area were unclear.

“The government can consider carrying out another round of hut occupancy surveys to find out at the how many huts have been rebuilt,” Chu said.

Land Watch chairman Lee Wing-tat said it is common for hut registrants to rent their huts to outsider for HK$3,000 a month, especially in the New Territories. It is an opportune time for the government to carry out a city-wide inspections.

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