13 building plans approved in May
The Buildings Department approved 13 building plans in May, with three on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
Of the approved plans, four were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, three were for factory and industrial developments, and six were for community services developments.
In the same month, consent was given for works to start on eight building projects which, when completed, will provide 121 273 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2 060 units, and 9 366 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notifications of commencement of superstructure works for 10 building projects.
The department also issued 14 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 43 301 sq m involving 809 units, and 78 814 sq m was for non-domestic use.
The declared cost of new buildings completed in May totalled about $4.3 billion.
In addition, two demolition consents were issued.
The department received 2 362 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in May and issued 385 removal orders on UBWs.
The full version of the Monthly Digest for May can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).
The Buildings Department, Photo source: reference image
Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possesssing duty-not-paid cigarettes
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 21) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).
Customs officers intercepted an incoming 31-year-old Mainland female passenger at the Lo Wu Control Point on May 24 and seized 10 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from her personal baggage. The duty-not-paid cigarettes had an estimated market value of about $41,000 and a duty potential of about $33,000. The female passenger was subsequently arrested.
Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
An incoming female passenger was sentenced to two months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (July 21) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance. Photo shows the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
