Property owner fined over $80,000 for failing to comply with removal order
A property owner was convicted and fined $84,400 last week for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap 123) (BO).
An inspection conducted by staff of the Buildings Department (BD) revealed that several unauthorised structures had been erected at the rear, on and over the roof and stair hood of a single family house at Perkins Road on Hong Kong Island. The unauthorised building works (UBWs) were carried out without prior approval from the BD, contravening section 14(1) of the BO. A removal order was then served on the owner of the premises under section 24(1) of the BO.
As the owner failed to remove the UBWs upon the expiry of the removal order, the owner was prosecuted by the BD. The owner was convicted and was heavily fined at Eastern Magistrates' Courts on November 28.
Pursuant to section 40(1BA) of the BO, any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with an order served on him under section 24(1) of the BO commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of $200,000 and to imprisonment for one year, as well as a further fine of $20,000 for each day that the offence has continued.
Ends/Friday, December 8, 2017