Owner fined HK$255K for not removing illegal structure

A property owner in Tai Lam has been fined HK$255,800 for repeatedly ignoring a removal order for unauthorized construction at his detached house. The Tuen Mun Magistrates' Court heard the case on Friday, according to the Buildings Department statement on Tuesday.

The fine comprised HK$155,880 for the duration of the unlawful activities and HK$100,000 for the actual infractions. These unauthorized works comprised a 122 square meter platform on a slope adjacent to an approved garden, a floor slab built over a void near the dining room, the removal of sections of external walls, and the erection of unauthorized structures on various floors, totaling approximately 57 square meters.

The owner received the removal order after carrying out these works without prior authorization. Despite previous prosecution seven times and facing fines with a suspended four-month prison sentence, the owner continued the construction. According to the Buildings Department, stringent enforcement action and prosecutions will continue against owners who disregard removal orders, emphasizing the need for building and public safety.

The statement highlights that under the Buildings Ordinance, the maximum penalty for non-compliance with a removal order without a reasonable excuse is a HK$200,000 fine and a one-year prison sentence, plus daily fines up to HK$20,000.