Property owner fined over $100,000 for not complying with removal order
An owner was convicted and fined $102,600 in total, of which $62,600 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (August 7) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts, the Tuen Mun Law Courts Building
The case involved an unauthorised building with a structure on the roof on a lot at D.D. 115, Yuen Long. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the unauthorised building works (UBW) and the UBW was 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 was prosecuted by the BD.
A spokesman for the BD said today (August 12), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent 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.
Source: AI-found images
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 13) detected one drug trafficking case involving a passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 3 kilograms of suspectedcocaine, with an estimated market value of about $1.8 million. A man was arrested.
A 57-year-old Indonesian male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bogota, Columbia via Sao Paulo, Brazil and Doha, Qatar, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed in the false compartment of his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.
Investigation of the case is ongoing.
Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.
Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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).
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs detects drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
