Three co-owners fined over $230,000 for not complying with removal order
Three co-owners were convicted and fined $230,820 in total, of which $221,820 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (January 2) 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 7 square metres and a metal frame over the yard; as well as a projecting structure with an area of about 3 sq m, three metal frames and two canvas sheets attached to the external walls of a composite building on Fook Tak Street, Yuen Long. 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 owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD.
A spokesman for the BD said today (January 5), "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 Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts, the Tuen Mun Law Courts Building, Photo source: reference image
Launch of open tender for new tenancy of Central Harbourfront Event Space
The Development Bureau (DEVB) announced today (January 5) that an open tender by the Lands Department is underway for the new tenancy of the Central Harbourfront Event Space (Event Space), which has an area of about 3.7 hectares (location plan in Annex). The tender invitation lasts for about 6 weeks and will close on February 13. The new tenancy is expected to be awarded before April and will commence in July for a fixed term of five years. The existing tennacy will expire on June 30.
A DEVB spokesperson said, "The Government has, by way of adopting a management model involving the letting of the Event Space to external party, driven over the years the successful hosting of a multitude of large-scale signature events, such as the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Art Central, Clockenflap Music & Arts Festival, etc. Such management model will be maintained under the tender exercise, but there will be enhancements in two areas to further unleash the potential of the Event Space, promote mega-event economy, and strengthen venue management with a view to enhancing visitors' experiences."
First, the DEVB has refined the tenancy terms to encourage the tenant (i.e. the successful bidder in this tender exercise) to optimise the use of the Event Space and its prime location, and bring in a rich diversity of events. The DEVB consulted the Harbourfront Commission on these refinements last year and received support from members. Relevant terms include:
While a two-envelope approach is maintained in this tender exercise, the weighting given to the technical proposal is increased from 40 per cent in previous exercises to 70 per cent, and only 30 per cent is accorded to the price proposal. The assessment on the technical proposals would take into account not only whether the events are diverse and capable of enhancing the vibrancy of the harbourfront, but also their appeal to visitors, so as to provide on-going support for the mega-event economy;
The fixed term of the new tenancy is extended from three years to five years, with a view to incentivising the tenant to make long-term investments and planning as well as to deliver events with due emphasis on both quality and quantity;
The tenant is required to provide, within one year from the commencement of the new tenancy and on a regular basis, food and beverage facilities with a floor area of not less than 100 square metres in the northern part of the Event Space adjacent to the promenade area. Apart from synergising with the events to be held at the Event Space, the facilities would also serve visitors to the harbourfront outside the period of any particular events; and
The requirement will continue for the tenant to run events for the public for at least about 30 per cent of days in its annual schedule. In addition, to avoid under-utilisation of the Event Space when no events or events relatively small in scale are taking place, in case no less than about one-third of the Event Space remains unused for events or is left unrented for a period of three consecutive days or above, the tenant is required to open that portion of the Event Space for public enjoyment and leisure activities free of charge.
Second, the DEVB has beefed up the terms and requirements in the tender documents to place a heavier onus on the tenant in monitoring future event organisers and to regularise the communication and alert mechanisms, so as to enable the DEVB, as the venue owner, to intervene in a timely manner. Similar clauses have also been introduced in the tender exercise for the harbourfront event space in Hung Hom launched earlier (December 22, 2025). Such clauses include:
The tenant is required to assess the credentials and experience of the applicants, their capability in hosting events, the feasibility of the proposed events, etc., before confirming approval of venue applications from event organisers. The tenant shall submit regular assessment reports to the DEVB;
The tenant shall closely monitor the progress of event preparation and alert the DEVB in a timely manner, such as whether the event is in alignment with the original proposal, whether the relevant licenses or permits have been applied for and obtained in a timely manner, and whether the ticketing arrangement is proper; and
The tenant and event organisers are required to hold a tripartite meeting with the DEVB prior to the events to confirm the progress of the final stage preparation and the arrangements made.
The spokesperson said that the tenant shall organise events and manage the Event Space in accordance with the commitments made in the technical proposal of the tender submission. A clause will be added in the new tenancy to the effect that if the actual number of event days held at the Event Space as rented out each year falls short of the commitment, the tenant is required to pay a compensation amount to the Government (equivalent to 10 per cent of the monthly rent of the Event Space for each day of shortfall). The arrangement aims to ensure the tenant would fully utilise the Event Space, maximising its efficiency.
Furthermore, with the concerted efforts of various parties involved, the Government has minimised the impact of the Airport Railway Extended Overrun Tunnel project being planned by the MTR Corporation Limited on the Event Space. The aboveground facilities of the railway project will be located outside the Event Space, and the temporary works areas required during the works period will only occupy the fringe of the site, with substantial reduction in the area and duration involved. The location of the required works area has been specified in the tender documents. With the above, when the railway project commences during the five-year fixed term of the Event Space, only minimal impact is envisaged on the use and operation of the Event Space.
Details of the tender exercise and the tender documents are available on the website of the Lands Department (www.landsd.gov.hk).
Source: AI-found images
