The bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease has been found throughout Hong Kong's new €517-million government headquarters.

The checks were ordered after the education secretary came down with the potentially fatal illness last month.

Health authorities said water samples taken from his new office's bathroom found traces of legionella bacteria as high as 14 times above acceptable levels.

Authorities says the bacteria was found in nine more of 31 water samples, and that they were now disinfecting the building.

Early signs of the disease can include high fever, chills and a cough.

The bacteria thrives in warm water. Earlier this year it was found in the Playboy Mansion grotto in Los Angeles after scores of people who attended a fund-raiser became ill.