Three property owners fined nearly $320,000 in total for persistently not complying with removal orders
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The first case involved several projecting structures with a total area of about 5.4 square metres in a composite building on Woosung Street, Jordan. As the unauthorised building works (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 two times and was fined upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the third time and was fined $139,700 upon conviction by the court, of which $123,700 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.
The second case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 20 sq m on the flat roof and the removal of a fire-resisting door at the unit entrance in a composite building on Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong. As the unauthorised works were carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, and affected the fire-resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Construction) Regulation, 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 upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the second time and was fined $105,640 upon conviction by the court, of which $90,640 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.
The third case involved an unauthorised structure erected in the means of escape and the removal of several fire-resisting concrete block walls and fire-resisting doors in an industrial building on Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong. As the alteration and addition works were carried out without prior approval and consent from the BD, and affected the fire-resisting construction of the building, contravening the Building (Construction) Regulation, 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 three times and was fined upon conviction by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the fourth time and was fined $72,100 upon conviction by the court, of which $32,100 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued.
A spokesman for the BD said today (October 14), "UBWs, including the unauthorised alterations affecting the fire-resisting construction of a building, 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/Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:10
Issued at HKT 11:10
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