Govt scouring social media for illegal building works
Hong Kong authorities are now scouring social media accounts to find home renovation works that violate building regulations, the government said on Wednesday. The revelation was made in Legco by Development Secretary Bernadette Linn, who added that a hotline will be set up to address queries on whether a residential flat has illegal alterations or additions. The moves come after officials were recently alerted to the partial removal of a load-bearing wall at a flat in Tseung Kwan O when a video of the alterations went viral online. The Buildings Department (BD) subsequently ordered the owners of the flat to fully rebuild the wall.  Linn told lawmakers that the department will also conduct more checks and enforcement action on illegal building work.  "The BD will also pay close attention to online information, drawing reference from recent experience, such as videos promoting housing units and fitting house services on social media," she said. "If the BD finds suspected [unauthorised building works], we will proactively conduct investigations and appropriate actions will be taken according to the findings...The relevant persons must be meted out a punishment appropriately." Linn said people will also be able to use the future new hotline to seek help in determining where load-bearing walls are located.