24th December 2024 – (Hong Kong) Two co-owners of a property in Kwun Tong have been convicted and fined a total of $91,400 after repeatedly failing to comply with a removal order under the Buildings Ordinance. The case centred on an unauthorised structure measuring approximately 40 square metres, located on the roof of a composite building on Argyle Street.
The Buildings Department (BD) issued the removal order after the owners constructed the building without the necessary approvals. Initially prosecuted for non-compliance, the owners were fined over $15,000. However, their continued disregard for the removal order prompted further legal action from the BD, resulting in the substantial fine imposed at the Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Courts on 17th December.
A BD spokesman reiterated the serious implications of unauthorised building works (UBWs), stating, “Owners must comply with removal orders without delay.” He emphasised that the department would not hesitate to pursue further enforcement actions against non-compliant owners to ensure safety standards are upheld.
Under the Buildings Ordinance, failing to comply with a removal order is a serious offence, carrying a maximum penalty of $200,000 and up to one year’s imprisonment, alongside additional fines for ongoing non-compliance.
