Henry Tang illegal basement controversy
Alleged floor plan that surfaced in February 2012 of illegal basement at 7 York Road – Henry Tang's residence.
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| Date | February 2012 – |
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| Location | 7 York Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong |
| Coordinates | 22°20′05″N 114°10′40″E / 22.334789°N 114.177822°E |
| Participants | Henry Tang, Lisa Kuo (Tang's wife), Government of Hong Kong |
The Henry Tang illegal basement controversy (simplified Chinese: 唐英年大宅僭建风波; traditional Chinese: 唐英年大宅僭建風波) was an event that began on 13 February 2012 over the unapproved basement extensions of two adjoining residences in Kowloon Tong owned by Henry Tang, a 2012 Hong Kong Chief Executive election candidate. Despite the impact on Tang's credibility, the scandal did not prevent his nomination on 20 February that year.
Henry Tang, who is known as a wine aficionado, had been previously been asked by the Ming Pao newspaper in October regarding the existence of a secret wine cellar not shown in plans submitted to the Buildings Department. Tang denied having a wine cellar.
Following media allegations of illegal structures at the Kowloon Tong residence, Tang backtracked and admitted on 13 February 2012 that there was an unauthorized structure at his home at No. 5A York Road in the form of a canopy above the garage. According to Tang an underground garage at his family's adjacent property (7 York Road) was there at the time of purchase, and had since been deepened "for storage". He said it was not used as a wine cellar.
On 15 February, Chinese-language newspaper Sharp Daily published a set of floor plans purporting to be of the 2,400-square-foot illegal basement at one of Tang's properties comprising a store room, fitness room, changing room, cinema and wine-tasting room dating from 2003.
Tang said the drawing "does not match. [The basement at No. 7 York Road] is basically used for storage." The Buildings Department said that the property was inspected on 22 January 2007, and no unauthorized structures were found. The property was held through a British Virgins Island company in which he once held shares; Tang transferred full ownership to his wife in 2010.
Local residents and bystanders were bemused by the media and political circus that gathered in York Road as inspectors made a site visit on 16 February: media hired building cranes to gain vantage over the property; photographers climbed onto the wall to photograph inside the compoundLeung Kwok-Hung led a protest outside Tang's residence and urged him to withdraw from the election.
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