Home Affairs Department to set up condolence points in all 18 districts
In memories of the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has made mourning arrangements. The Home Affairs Department will set up condolence points in all 18 districts for the public to sign condolence books to mourn for the victims between November 29 and December 1.
The condolence books will be available for signing from 9am to 9pm between November 29 and December 1. The condolence points are as follows:
Central & Western
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
Wan Chai
Moreton Terrace Activities Centre
20 Tung Lo Wan Drive, Causeway Bay
Eastern
North Point Community Hall
123 Java Road, North Point
Southern
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
Kowloon City
Hung Hom Community Hall
UG/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
Kwun Tong
Kwun Tong Community Centre
17 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong
Sham Shui Po
Lai Chi Kok Community Hall
G/F, Banyan Garden, 863 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po (entrance facing Sham Shing Road)
Wong Tai Sin
Wong Tai Sin Community Centre
104 Ching Tak Street, Wong Tai Sin
Yau Tsim Mong
Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
Islands
HKFEW Wong Cho Bau Secondary School
Area 10, Phase 3, Fu Tung Estate, Tung Chung
Kwai Tsing
Lai King Community Hall
205, Lai King Hill Road, Kwai Chung
North
Wo Hing Community Hall
G/F, 7 Wo Ming Lane, Fanling
Sai Kung
Chi Shin Activity Centre
G/F, Tseung Kwan O South Ancillary Facilities Block, 5 Chi Shin Street, Tseung Kwan O
Sha Tin
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
Tai Po
Multi-purpose Hall of Fu Heng Neighbourhood Community Centre
Fu Heng Estate, Phase IV, Tai Po
Tsuen Wan
Sai Lau Kok Garden Multi-purpose Room
Sai Lau Kok Road, Tsuen Wan
Tuen Mun
Siu Lun Community Hall
19 Siu Lun Street, Tuen Mun
Yuen Long
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
Re-launch of Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works in New Territories Exempted Houses
Following the direction of earlier proposals, the Buildings Department (BD) announced today (April 1) the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme for Unauthorised Building Works (UBWs) in New Territories Exempted Houses (NTEHs). The reporting period will last for one year from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
"In view of the history and unique circumstances of the NTEHs (commonly known as village houses), the Government launched a one-off administrative reporting scheme in 2012 as a special arrangement. Under the scheme, owners could report to the BD about UBWs that were erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law. The reporting period ended in December 2012. The Development Bureau (DEVB) put forward proposals to amend the Buildings Ordinance in December 2024, which included rationalising the policy for handling UBWs. The DEVB also pointed out that in response to the views of villagers and Legislative Council members that the reporting period was too short, the Government prepared to re-launch the Reporting Scheme to allow owners who at that time did not report their UBWs to do so," a spokesman for the BD said.
Relevant stakeholders and Legislative Council members generally considered the above proposals practical and feasible, and they welcomed the proposals. The DEVB and the BD have also consulted Heung Yee Kuk on the relevant implementation arrangements.
The re-launched Reporting Scheme will maintain the original criteria, including:
(1) The types of UBWs that can be reported and their erection dates are the same as the original Reporting Scheme, meaning that only UBWs erected before June 28, 2011, posed lower risks or constituted less serious contravention of the law and were not the First Round Targets (Note) are eligible. Examples include signboards projecting from the external walls of village houses; enclosed rooftop structures with a coverage of not more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area of the main building.
(2) Same as the original Reporting Scheme, owners are required to conduct safety inspections on the reported UBWs every five years.
"The BD will not require the immediate removal of the reported UBWs unless their structures become obviously dangerous. Regarding UBWs in village houses, the BD is prioritising the handling of First Round Targets. If any relevant UBWs remain not reported after the application deadline of March 31, 2027, the BD will, after dealing with the First Round Targets, take priority enforcement action against the non-reported UBWs. The BD will formulate enforcement strategy for the reported UBWs at a later stage in accordance with the risks and the actual situation," the spokesman added.
To enhance the efficiency of processing applications, reports must be submitted via the electronic platform on the BD's website by technically competent persons or registered professional engineers appointed by owners. In accordance with the user-pays principle, an administrative fee of $600 is payable for each application. Upon successful reports, owners must also pay the relevant administrative fee when conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years.
Details of the re-launched Reporting Scheme are available on the BD's website at https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/safety-inspection/ubw/UBW-in-new-territories-exempted-houses/index_relaunch_reporting_scheme.html; Villagers who wish to report can call 2626 1616 for enquiry. The BD will also use different channels such as distributing leaflets and posters to Rural Committees to enable villagers to know more about the re-launch of the Reporting Scheme.
Owners who had successfully participated in the Reporting Scheme in 2012 are not required to submit reports again. However, they must continue to comply with the requirements of the original Reporting Scheme, including conducting safety inspections of the reported UBWs every five years, submitting safety certificates and paying administrative fees to the BD.
Note: The First Round Targets refer to UBWs with higher potential risks and more serious nature, such as village houses of four storeys or more, and enclosed rooftop structures covering more than 50 per cent of the roofed-over area.
Source: AI-found images
