​An owner was convicted and fined $76,900 in total, of which $26,900 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Fanling Magistrates' Courts on Tuesday (May 19) for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 19 square metres on the roof of a village house on a lot at D.D. 218, Tai Po. 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.

     Failing to comply with the removal order, the owner had been prosecuted by the BD and was fined a total of $11,630 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, he was prosecuted for the second time.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (May 21), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent enforcement action and instigate prosecutions against owners again if they persist in not complying with removal orders, so as to ensure building and public safety."

     Failure to comply with a removal order without 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 up to $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Ends/Thursday, May 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:00

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