Tag Archives: China

     A property owner who persistently failed to comply with a removal order issued under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) (Cap. 123) was convicted and fined over $100,000 at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts earlier this month.

     The case involved an unauthorised structure with an area of about 100 square metres on the flat roof of a residential building on Yuen Long On Ning Road, Yuen Long. 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 three times and was fined over $190,000 in total upon convictions by the court. As the owner persisted in not complying with the removal order, the owner was prosecuted for the fourth time and was convicted again at the Tuen Mun Magistrates’ Courts on April 5. The court adjourned the hearing and ordered the owner to report on the status of the removal of the UBWs before handing down a sentence. On August 2, the owner reported to the court that the UBWs had been removed and provided photographs as proof. Eventually the owner was fined $104,400, of which $64,400 was the fine for the number of days that the offence continued, by the court.

     A spokesman for the BD today (August 16) said, “UBWs may lead to serious consequences. The owners concerned must comply with the removal order without delay. The BD will continue to take enforcement actions and consider instigating prosecution against the owners again if they persist in not complying with the order, 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. read more

     The Government today (August 16) announced the following appointments to the Occupational Safety and Health Council for a term of two years starting from August 22, 2024. Appointments as Members: Dr Johnnie Casire Chan… read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:        Here is an item of interest to swimmers.        The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (Augus… read more

     The Government published in the Gazette today (August 16) the exemption of designated Shenzhen cross-boundary ambulances from the Road Traffic (Registration and Licensing of Vehicles) Regulations (Cap. 374E) (the Regulations) during… read more

     The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced today (August 15) that the giant pandas, Ying Ying and Le Le, gifted by the Central People’s Government to the HKSAR in 2007, succeeded in natural mating at Ocean Park in March this year. After a pregnancy period of nearly five months, Ying Ying gave birth to a pigeon pair of cubs at 2.05am and 3.27am today.

     This is a very critical period for the health of the newborn giant panda cubs. Ocean Park’s animal care and veterinary teams, together with experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP), are monitoring Ying Ying and her cubs round the clock until their conditions become fully stable.

     The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said “This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which makes the birth of the first lovely Hong Kong-born pigeon pair of cubs by Ying Ying and Le Le even more special. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Central Government again for gifting the giant pandas to the HKSAR which fully demonstrates its care and support for our city. We would also like to thank Ocean Park’s team for taking good care of An An, Jia Jia, Ying Ying and Le Le over the years, as well as the experts from the CCRCGP for their continuous support, which enabled Ying Ying and Le Le to give birth to the pigeon pair of cubs.” read more