29 building plans approved in Mar
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     The Buildings Department approved 29 building plans in March ¡V 12 on Hong Kong Island, 10 in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, 14 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, nine were for commercial developments, two were for factory and industrial developments, and four were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for work to start on 19 building projects that, when completed, will provide 21,747 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 162 units, and 44,928 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of work for 20 building projects.

     The department also issued 15 occupation permits - four on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic use were 3,060 square metres, involving nine units, and 299,900 square metres for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of the new buildings completed in March totalled about $5.5 billion.

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

     The department received 2,778 complaints against unauthorised building works in March, and issued 2,254 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 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 11:04

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