​Three owners were convicted and fined $382,100 in total, of which $212,100 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (July 3) for failing to comply with removal orders and repair orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).  

     The case involved the alteration of seven units into mini-storage units in an industrial building on Kin Wong Street, Tuen Mun. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), and they obstructed the means of escape and means of access for firefighting and rescue, as well as affecting the fire-resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Planning) Regulations and the Building (Construction) Regulation, five removal orders and five repair orders were served on the three owners under section 24(1) and section 26 of the BO respectively. Failing to comply with the statutory orders, they were prosecuted by the BD.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (July 6), "Unauthorised alteration works causing obstruction to the means of escape and means of access for firefighting and rescue, or affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders and repair orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement action against owners who fail to comply with removal orders and repair orders, including instigation of prosecution, 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. Moreover, failure to comply with a repair order without reasonable excuse is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of level 5 ($50,000 at present) and one year's imprisonment, and a further fine of up to $5,000 for each day that the offence continues.

Ends/Monday, July 6, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00

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