Property owner fined over $90,000 for not complying with removal order
A property owner was convicted and fined over $90,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts this month for failing to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123).
The case involved an unauthorised structure with a total area of about 34 square metres on the roof of a residential building at Yuen Long On Ning Road. 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 was prosecuted by the BD and was fined $93,620 in total by the Court, of which $73,620 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, upon conviction at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on October 18.
A spokesman for the BD said today (October 29), "UBWs may lead to serious consequences. Owners must comply with removal orders without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions against owners who have failed to comply with removal orders, including instigation of prosecution, so as to ensure building 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 $20,000 for each day that the offence continues.
Ends/Tuesday, October 29, 2024