Officials investigate villa in shape of temple
Updated: 2013-08-22 07:38
By Jin Haixing (China Daily)
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Netizens said the temple-shaped villa on top of a 19-story apartment building in Shenzhen is the "most impressive" illegally constructed rooftop building to be exposed online. Lu Li / for China Daily |
However, when questioned, neighbors complained of incense ashes, which sometimes entered their houses during religious ceremonies held in the villa, said a report by the local newspaper Nanfang Daily.
The villa, surrounded by trees, is difficult to identify from the ground, and residents said they only noticed it after local media reported on it.
"I did not notice the structure or the construction. After reading the news reports, I'm worried about the safety of the building and I support a plan to demolish it," said a woman surnamed Zhang.
"We should respect the religious beliefs of the owner if it was built for religious use. However, if it is deemed as illegal by the authorities, it should be demolished because it occupies a public space, or it should be moved elsewhere," a teacher surnamed Liang, who works in the community, said.
Urban patrol officers said they plan to ask the fire department to open an emergency passage to gain access to the villa for an on-site investigation.
Meanwhile, urban patrol officers asked for legal advice from local property supervision departments and sent officers to patrol the community to locate the property's owner, said Liu, head of the urban patrol officers.
Residents interviewed by China Daily said the property management office, which refused to comment on the case, should be held responsible as construction of the villa was completed many years ago.
Chen Wenli and Zhu Jing in Shenzhen contributed to this story.
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