Two owners fined over $140,000 in total for not complying with removal orders
Two owners were convicted and fined $146,655 in total at the Magistrates' Courts yesterday (June 24) for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The first case involved a fence wall and a structure erected at the rear garden of a village house in Tai Che, Sha Tin. 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 owner under section 24(1) of the BO.
Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner had been prosecuted by the BD and was fined a total of $59,120 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the second time and was fined $78,200 in total, of which $43,200 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued upon conviction at the Shatin Magistrates' Courts.
The second case involved an addition of two unauthorised structures on the roof and an approved canopy, and the enclosure of an approved drying shelter on a roof for subdivision into four units at a composite building on Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po. 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 $68,455 in total, of which $58,455 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued upon conviction at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts.
A spokesman for the BD said today (June 25), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action and instigate prosecutions against owners again if they persist in not complying with removal orders 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.
Source: AI-found images
SITI attends China Business Summit in Auckland, New Zealand
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, began his visit to Auckland, New Zealand, today (June 25, Auckland time) and attended the China Business Summit co-organised by the Auckland Business Chamber and NZINC.
Before the summit, Professor Sun met with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Christopher Luxon, and briefed him on the fact that Hong Kong is striving to develop into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre under the clear support of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Hong Kong possesses unique advantages in areas including AI, life and health technology and fintech, and there is immense room to deepen I&T collaboration with New Zealand. Professor Sun cordially invited research and development (R&D) institutions, start-ups and professional talent to settle in Hong Kong and seize the opportunities brought by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the country. Mr Luxon welcomed the Hong Kong delegation and expressed the hope that the two places can further enhance pragmatic co-operation in the I&T field.
In his keynote speech during the summit, Professor Sun outlined to the audience that Hong Kong is transforming from an international financial centre to a vibrant international I&T centre. He said that Hong Kong proactively promotes economic diversification and creates joint prosperity in the era with complex geopolitical situations.
Professor Sun highlighted Hong Kong's strategic I&T infrastructure, including the newly opened Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last year and the San Tin Technopole under planning. These two initiatives will form a bridge connecting global technology talent and enterprises with the GBA market of a population of 88 million and its well-developed supply chain. He also said that Hong Kong has identified AI as a core industry and is fully committed to promoting new industrialisation.
Professor Sun said that Hong Kong is a gateway to Asia's innovation frontier. New Zealand companies can reach out to the Chinese Mainland and expand to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the broader Asia-Pacific. Hong Kong has a highly open and free economy, a robust legal framework, a simple and low tax regime, strong intellectual property protection, ease of capital raising, and world-class logistics and infrastructure and is a trusted partner, a platform and a bridge to New Zealand.
Professor Sun also met with the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Trade and Investment and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay. Professor Sun briefed him on Hong Kong's latest I&T developments and measures to promote new industrialisation. Both sides exchanged views on I&T policies and on strengthening investment and co-operation opportunities between the two places.
Professor Sun also called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue, Dr Wang Xiaolong, and the Consul-General of the People's Republic of China in Christchurch, Ms He Ying, to introduce the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting I&T development, as well as Hong Kong's proposal to align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and to elaborate on Hong Kong's continuous efforts in actively integrating into the overall layout of the country's new industrialisation.
Professor Sun visited Heidi Health, an Australian medical-AI company, in Melbourne, Australia, before departing for Auckland, New Zealand, on June 24. The company is dedicated to transforming clinical workflows through intelligent automation, with its core technologies focusing on using AI to generate medical notes and support diagnostic reasoning. Professor Sun encouraged the company to further expand its business operations in Hong Kong and strengthen collaboration with local universities as well as R&D institutions.
Professor Sun will continue his visit to Auckland, New Zealand, on June 26 (Auckland time).
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (third left), visited Heidi Health, an Australian medical-AI company, in Melbourne, Australia, before departing for Auckland, New Zealand, on June 24. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (left), called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Niue, Dr Wang Xiaolong (right), today (June 25, Auckland time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, attended the China Business Summit 2026 in Auckland, New Zealand, today (June 25, Auckland time). Photo shows Professor Sun delivering a keynote speech at the summit. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (left), met with the Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Trade and Investment and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Mr Todd McClay (right), today (June 25, Auckland time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (right), met with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr Christopher Luxon (left), today (June 25, Auckland time). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
