Property owner fined over $180,000 for not complying with removal order
A property owner was convicted and fined $186,400 in total, of which $36,400 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts yesterday (December 9) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 750 square metres on the roof of an industrial building on Hung To Road, Kwun Tong. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the owner under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.
A spokesman for the BD said today (December 10), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal 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 up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
The Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts, the Kwun Tong Law Courts Building
Recruitment under Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth Phase 9 starts today
The Government today (December 10) started recruitment under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) Phase 9. The application period will close on January 8, 2026.
A spokesman for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) said, "The MSSY is one of the key initiatives for youth development as set out in the Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address and the Youth Development Blueprint. To engage more young people in public affairs and enhance their interaction with and trust in the Government, action has been taken to expand the MSSY, with a view to increasing the number of participating advisory committees from around 60 in 2022 to no less than 180 within the current term of the Government. At present, about 650 posts are held by young people who have been appointed to various advisory and statutory bodies of the Government, directly or indirectly, through the MSSY. The overall ratio of youth members in these bodies has increased from 7.8 per cent in end-2017 to 15.5 per cent in end-2024."
The MSSY has received an enthusiastic response since its launch. From the Pilot Scheme to Phase 8 of the MSSY, a total of about 14 000 applications have been received so far. The list of appointees has been uploaded to thewebsiteof the HYAB.
The MSSY Phase 9 is now open for application. The participating committees for the MSSY Phase 9 are as follows:
Sir David Trench Fund Committee
Standing Committee on Language Education and Research
Electrical Safety Advisory Committee
Food Wise Hong Kong Steering Committee
Coordinating Committee on Basic Competency Assessment and Assessment Literacy
Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development
Committee on Consumer Protection Policy, Trade Practices and Redress under the Consumer Council
Committee on Sustainability, Public Affairs and Education under the Consumer Council
Hong Kong Paralympians Fund Management Committee
Publicity and Promotion Committee under the Award Council of the Hong Kong Award for Young People
Working Group on Elder Abuse
Working Group on Publicity under Finance and Strategic Development Committee of Property Management Services Authority
Commission on Children
Green Tech Fund Assessment Committee
Committee on Community Support for Rehabilitated Offenders
Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Committee
Transport Advisory Committee
Transport Tribunals' Panel
Licensing Committee of the Estate Agents Authority
Professional Development Committee of the Estate Agents Authority
Practice and Examination Committee of the Estate Agents Authority
Disciplinary Committee of the Estate Agents Authority
Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education
Lantau Development Advisory Committee
Appeal Panel (Housing)
Vetting Committee of the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund
Immigration Department Users'Committee
General Support Programme Vetting Committee
"There are 28 participating committees in Phase 9, covering a wider spectrum of policy areas. We encourage young people aged between 18 and 35 on January 8, 2026, i.e. the date of the application deadline, and with a commitment to serving the community to apply for the MSSY Phase 9," the spokesman continued.
The HYAB is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the MSSY. Assessment Panels (APs) will be formed under the 28 participating committees to handle the applications and conduct interviews. Each AP will comprise the respective official and/or non-official member(s) and representative(s) from the responsible bureaux/departments.
The APs will consider whether the applicant has a strong commitment to serving the community, a good understanding of the policy area concerned, and good analytical and communication skills. Following the principle of meritocracy, the Government aims to, through the MSSY, recruit young people who have the commitment to serving the community and the ability to contribute to the committees concerned, for recommending to the relevant B/Ds for consideration of appointment. In general, each participating committee will offer two seats for appointment. Subject to the actual number of applications received and assessment progress, assessment is expected to be completed around the third quarter of 2026.
The application form and other details of the MSSY Phase 9 are available on the website of the HYAB (www.hyab.gov.hk). When completing the application form, applicants are required to write no more than 600 words or provide avideo or audio clip of no longer than three minutes to account for, in either Chinese or English, their suitability for being appointed as a member of the selected committee(s).Applications may be submitted through the online application system, by post or by hand.
Source: AI-found images
