Mini-storage owner fined $282,870 for unauthorized alterations and non-compliance with building orders in Yuen Long.

Property owner of mini-storages fined over $280,000 for not complying with removal order and repair order

An owner of mini-storages was convicted and fined $282,870 in total, of which $165,870 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (September 26) for failing to comply with a removal order and a repair order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

The case involved alteration of nine units into mini-storages in an industrial building on Hi Yip Street, Yuen Long. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), and they obstructed the means of escape and means of access for fire fighting and rescue as well as affecting the fire-resisting construction of the buildings, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, a removal order and a repair order were served on the owner under section 24(1) and section 26 of the BO respectively. Failure to comply with the statutory orders, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (September 29), "Unauthorised alteration works causing an obstruction to the means of escape and means of access for fire fighting and rescue, or affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders and repair orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders and repair orders, including instigation of prosecution to ensure building and public safety."

Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the BO. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $200,000 and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues. Moreover, failure to comply with a repair order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of level 5 ($50,000 at present) and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of $5,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: AI-found images

Police National Security Department charges two men and arrests one woman

The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested a 26-year-old woman on December 12 night for being suspected of committing the offence of “unlawful drilling” under Section 13 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, in connection with the enforcement operation conducted on December 11.

Regarding the nine persons arrested earlier, NSD has laid charge against two of the men, aged 24 and 25, jointly with one count of "conspiracy to commit subversion". The case will be mentioned at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (December 15) morning.

The arrested woman and other arrestees were released on bail and are required to report back to the Police in mid-January 2026.

Investigation revealed that a syndicate has been conducting unlawful drilling inside a unit of an industrial building in Kowloon. The training content includes firearms drills, knife techniques and combat techniques. Police conducted searches at the unit suspected of being used for unlawful drilling and seized offensive weapons associated with the unlawful drilling.

Police remind members of the public that "conspiracy to commit subversion" is a serious offence. Offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for more than ten years on first conviction. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.

Source: AI-found images