Property owner fined over $80,000 for not complying with removal order

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An owner was convicted and fined $80,970 in total, of which $50,970 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (August 15) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap 123).

     The case involved unauthorised structures with a total area of about 27 square metres on the roof of a village house in Sai Pin Wai, Yuen Long. Since the Lands Department would not issue a certificate of exemption for the unauthorised building works (UBWs) and the UBWs were 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. Due to failure to comply with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (August 18), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take 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 a 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 $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Ends/Monday, August 18, 2025
Issued at HKT 11:00

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