​A property owner was convicted and fined $53,700 in total, of which $23,700 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts last Friday (August 28) for persistently 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 84 square metres on the rooftop of a composite building on King's Road, North Point. 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 had been prosecuted by the BD twice and was fined upon convictions by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the third time.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (August 31), "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 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, August 31, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00

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