The director said on another radio show that the long-term impact of the renovation had to be assessed in detail, and her department had already commenced a review. The authorised structural engineer employed by the flat owner was also required to look at the data and calculate the impact on the entire block of modifying the wall, she added.
But Yu stressed the residential complex was in no immediate danger.
The case is centred on a 681 sq ft (63 square metre) flat in The Capitol, with online users speculating illegal modifications had been done to a load-bearing wall after a video showing the interior of the home surfaced on the internet.
Authorities subsequently uncovered code violations in the renovation work at the flat.
Yu on Wednesday clarified that not all modifications made to load-bearing walls would be rejected by authorities, although such work required a lot of justification.
“They will be subject to detailed discussion. There could be a chance of approval if the flat is located on the highest floor or the unit size is small … It would depend on the building’s design and the locations of the homes,” she said.
The renovation saga came to light on Saturday after a video showing renovations to the home in Lohas Park aroused suspicions among internet users that parts of a load-bearing wall between the bedroom and the living room had been removed.
The Buildings Department confirmed the unauthorised removal of part of a 72cm-by-215cm (28-by-85 inches) structural wall between the living room and a bedroom. The flat owner has already installed temporary supports in the doorway, according to the department.
A preliminary assessment and on-site observation of flats nearby showed the removed part accounted for 6 per cent of the load-bearing wall and 1 per cent of that of the whole floor, but there was no risk to the overall building structure.
The department said it would approve a restoration proposal by the parties “within days”, adding the owner had to start construction in 15 days and complete it within 30 days.