28 building plans approved in March
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     The Buildings Department approved 28 building plans in March - 11 on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, 10 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, five were for commercial developments, four were for factory and industrial developments, and nine were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for work to start on 13 building projects that, when completed, will provide 75,541 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 1,153 units, and 72,434 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of work for 11 building projects.

     The department also issued 15 occupation permits - three on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic use were 42,948 square metres, involving 478 units, and 12,990 square metres for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of the new buildings completed in March totalled about $1.4 billion.

     In addition, eight demolition consents involving eight building structures were issued.

     The department received 2,200 complaints against unauthorised building works in March, and issued 6,238 removal orders on unauthorised works.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed by the public on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).

Ends/Thursday, April 23, 2009
Issued at HKT 14:56

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