Two co-owners fined over $60,000 for not complying with removal order
Two co-owners were convicted and fined $66,200 in total, of which $50,200 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts yesterday (March 31) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts, Kwun Tong Law Courts Building
The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 29 square metres on the roof of a village house on a lot at D.D. 242, Sai Kung. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the unauthorised building works (UBWs) and the UBWs were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on the co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD.
The Buildings Department (BD), Photo source: reference image
A spokesman for the BD said today (April 1), "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.
Speech by CE at Fourth Edition of Women Power Forum
Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Fourth Edition of Women Power Forum today (April 1):
Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to join you, today, for the fourth Women Power Forum, delighted to be here among so many esteemed female leaders and distinguished guests.
They say women hold up half the sky, and in today's Hong Kong, that is exactly what we see.
In the private sector, a growing number of listed companies now have a good number of female directors, and women's participation in corporate leadership continues to rise. In the professional world, more than half of our accountants and lawyers are women. And within the Government, eight out of 15 directors of bureaux, along with the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, are women. Forty-nine per cent of our civilian civil servants are also women.
In short, women are both the leaders and the backbone of our economy and our government. Hong Kong is clearly far better because of it, because of the women of Hong Kong. Very proud of you all.
Hong Kong's achievements stand as a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to women's development and gender equality.
We champion these goals because we recognise a fundamental truth: that women's progress is not just a women's issue; it is a shared responsibility, one that benefits everyone. In Hong Kong and around the world.
That's why the theme of this year's Women Power Forum is "Women Across Nations: Unite to Prosper." Working together, we can continue to drive progress, locally, regionally and globally.
I wish you all a rewarding Forum and, for those of you here from outside Hong Kong, an enjoyable stay in the world's rising East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. Thank you.
Source: AI-found images
