Owners Fined $382,100 for Ignoring Building Safety Orders in Tuen Mun Case

Three owners fined over $380,000 in total for not complying with removal and repair orders

Three owners were convicted and fined $382,100 in total, of which $212,100 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (July 3) for failing to comply with removal orders and repair orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts, Tuen Mun Law Courts Building

The case involved the alteration of seven units into mini-storage units in an industrial building on Kin Wong Street, Tuen Mun. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), and they obstructed the means of escape and means of access for firefighting and rescue, as well as affecting the fire-resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, five removal orders and five repair orders were served on the three owners under section 24(1) and section 26 of the BO respectively. Failing to comply with the statutory orders, they were prosecuted by the BD.

A spokesman for the BD said today (July 6), "Unauthorised alteration works causing obstruction to the means of escape and means of access for firefighting and rescue, or affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders and repair orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders and repair orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as 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. Moreover, failure to comply with a repair order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of level 5 ($50,000 at present) and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $5,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Source: AI-found images

PCPD and DPO jointly launch Safeguarding Personal Data AI Sandbox

To embrace the rapid adoption of AI technologies in Hong Kong, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) and the Digital Policy Office (DPO) jointly announced today (July 6) the launch of the Safeguarding Personal Data AI Sandbox (Sandbox). The Sandbox aims to actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan which places dual emphasis on development and security, and implement the policy direction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in promoting the development of "AI+".

The first phase of the Sandbox programme will be six months in duration, which aims to provide a collaborative platform for schools to explore and adopt AI solutions. During the first phase of the pilot, 15 school applicants will be selected to benefit from complimentary access to the PCPD's regulatory guidance on personal data privacy protection, the DPO's guidance on the Hong Kong Generative Artificial Intelligence Technical and Application Guideline, as well as technical advice from Hong Kong Cyberport and the Hong Kong Productivity Council in implementing AI solutions, with a view to fostering school innovation while facilitating its compliance with the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance and promoting the responsible adoption of AI technologies.

The programme is now open for applications from publicly funded primary and secondary schools until October 30, 2026. A briefing session on details of the programme will be held on August 28, 2026. Interested schools may visit www.pcpd.org.hk/english/artificial_intelligence/index.html for more information.

Photo source: reference image