Five property owners fined over $320,000 in total for not complying with removal orders
Five owners were convicted and fined $322,804 in total at the Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday (March 3) for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The first case involved four structures with a total area of about 126 square metres at the garden and roof of a detached house on Kwu Tung Road, Sheung Shui. As the unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), two removal orders were served on the two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal orders, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $92,444 in total, of which $12,444 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts.
The second case involved a structure with an area of about 78 sq m on the roof of a residential building on Jockey Club Road, Sheung Shui. As the UBW was carried out without prior approval and consent from the 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 and was fined $54,800 in total, of which $4,800 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts.
The third case involved a cockloft and staircase with a total area of about 51 sq m in a shop on the ground floor of a composite building on Wan Hon Street, Kwun Tong. As the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the 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 and was fined $90,280 in total, of which $55,280 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts.
The fourth case involved a cockloft with an area of about 45 sq m in another ground floor shop of the same building as the third case. As the UBW was carried out without prior approval and consent from the 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 and was fined $85,280 in total, of which $55,280 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts.
A spokesman for the BD said today (March 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."
The Buildings Department (BD), Photo source: reference image
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.
Photo source: AI-created image
