Lands Officials To Look Into Home Linked To Top Cop

The Lands Department says it's looking into whether any regulations have been violated, after a report said a senior police officer is living in a village house in Sai Kung that should not have been rented out or transferred to anyone else.

The department confirmed that the home in Pik Shui Sun Tsuen was built on government land under a licence that prevented anyone but the original licensee and their family from living there.

However the department declined to say whether Chief Superintendent Rupert Dover lived at the home, as it could not share private information. Next Magazine had reported that the senior police officer was living in the house.

Lands officials say they will visit the property to check whether any regulations are being violated and will take any necessary action.

The police have yet to respond to inquiries on whether Dover lives at the property or whether he has declared any interest in a company that, according to the Next Magazine report, is registered to the Sai Kung address.

Dover, who has served with the Hong Kong force for more than three decades, has often been at the forefront of policing operations at protests.

Next Magazine criticised the police for arresting two of its reporters on suspicion of loitering while investigating the home. The police said the arrests were based on reasonable suspicion and insisted the reporters failed to provide reasonable explanation on why they were there.