​Four owners were fined $116,160 in total yesterday (October 7) upon conviction at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts for failing to comply with removal orders issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).

     The first case involved an unauthorised structure with area of about 15 square metres on the flat roof of a composite building on Yan Oi Street, Wong Tai Sin. As the unauthorised building works (UBW) was carried out without prior approval and consent from the Buildings Department (BD), a removal order was served on two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD, and were fined $53,250 in total yesterday, of which $38,160 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the court on May 6.

     The second case involved an unauthorised structure with area of about 32 sq m on the flat roof of a residential building on Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po. As the UBW was carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, a removal order was served on two co-owners under section 24(1) of the BO. Failing to comply with the removal order, they were prosecuted by the BD and were fined $62,910 in total, of which $47,820 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued upon conviction at the court yesterday.

     A spokesman for the BD said today (October 8), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take stringent 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 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, October 8, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:00

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