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Incorporated Owners fined for failing to comply with removal order
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     An Incorporated Owners body was fined $100,000 for failing to comply with a removal order which required it to remove two unauthorised signboards erected at the external wall of a building, issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), at Eastern Magistrates' Courts on September 25.

     Inspections conducted by staff of the Buildings Department (BD) revealed that two unauthorised signboards had been erected at the external wall of a building in D'Aguilar Street, Hong Kong. The building works were carried out without prior approval from the Building Authority (Buildings Department), contrary to section 14(1) of the Buildings Ordinance. Removal orders were then issued to the owner of the external wall, i.e. the Incorporated Owners of the building, under section 24(1) of the Buildings Ordinance.

     The BD later instigated prosecution of the Incorporated Owners who failed to remove the unauthorised structures upon expiry of the removal order. A representative of the Incorporated Owners eventually pleaded guilty on September 25 at Eastern Magistrates' Courts and was fined $100,000.

     "Unauthorised building works may adversely affect the structural and fire safety of a building leading to serious consequences. Building owners should seek professional advice before carrying out any building works in their premises," a spokesman for the BD said.

     "Owners intending to remove existing unauthorised building works in their premises should either obtain prior approval and consent from the BD or follow the simplified requirements under the Minor Works Control System, and appoint a prescribed registered contractor to remove the unauthorised building works," the spokesman added.

     Failure to comply with a removal order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence under the Buildings Ordinance. The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year's imprisonment and a fine of $200,000, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

     The spokesperson emphasised that the BD will continue to carry out appropriate enforcement actions against unauthorised and dangerous/abandoned signboards. During the first nine months of this year, a total of 1 170 unauthorised/dangerous/abandoned signboards were removed or repaired.

Ends/Thursday, October 23, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:28

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