Justice chief ‘not compromised’ despite 10 illegal structures at homes, Hong Kong leader says
Chief Executive Carrie Lam defends newly appointed minister Teresa Cheng, insisting ‘this is not an integrity issue’
Hong Kong’s leader dug in her heels on Tuesday to reject mounting calls for her newly appointed justice minister to resign, insisting that Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah’s integrity had not been compromised by the scandal over illegal structures at her luxury home.
Buildings Department inspectors found 10 unauthorised extensions, including two large basements, at two adjacent three-storey houses owned by Cheng and her engineer husband in Tuen Mun, hours after the chief executive declared she had full confidence in her pick for what is currently the hot seat in her administration.
“Based on the information that I have now, I do not feel this is an integrity issue, and that’s why it will not compromise Teresa’s position as the secretary for justice,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said.
She said Cheng had immediately reported the issue to her on Friday afternoon – hours after she announced Cheng’s appointment – when the new minister was alerted to the problem by the Buildings Department and media inquiries.
Five inspectors from the department entered the homes of Cheng and her husband, Otto Poon Lok-to, in a prime beachfront neighbourhood on Tuesday morning.
“The two houses were structurally safe but we found there were some unauthorised building works that were not under the permitted building plans,” senior building surveyor Robin Leung Chi-tim told the media pack waiting outside with drones filming the property.
