​Three owners were convicted and fined $128,780 in total at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts last Wednesday (May 27) for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The first case involved an unauthorised structure of about 240 square metres on the flat roof of an industrial building on Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan. As the unauthorised building work (UBW) was 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 was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $50,780 in total, of which $20,780 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.

     The second case involved an unauthorised structure of about 89 sq m on the flat roof of a composite building on Lei Muk Road, Kwai Chung. As the UBW was carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on the two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, the owners had been prosecuted by the BD two times and were fined a cumulative total of $37,650 upon convictions by the court. As the owners persisted in not complying with the removal order, they were prosecuted for the third time and were fined $78,000 in total upon convictions by the court.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (June 1), "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/Monday, June 1, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00

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