Supplementary to LegCo Question No. 5
in Legislative Council on 1 May 1985
Dr. Ip:- Sir, How many of such contractors have been prosecuted
last year as compared to the number of owners of properties
prosecuted as compared to contractors and owners jointly prosecuted?
Secretary for Lands and Works:- The answer to the first question
is nil; the answer to the second question is that I don't have
statistics for the last year; but for the three years 1982, 83,
and 84,20 persons were prosecuted.
Dr. Ip: Sir, would Government consider prosecuting contractors
carrying out illegal building works more effective in deterring
the construction of illegal work rather than prosecuting the
owners as it is the contractors who give the advice?
Secretary for Lands and Works:- The idea of prosecuting
contractors as a deterrent has been considered but the main difficulty
lies in the identification of the contractors who actually carry out
the illegal building work. The Building Authority could prosecute
contractors in cases where they can be identified. However
contractors who install illegal extentions and structures are not
always registered under the Buildings Ordinance. Many unauthorised
building works are of a minor nature and do not require established
contractors, rather, they are executed by part-time jobbers, many
of whom may be will-o'-the-wisps.
Work could also be carried out
by the occupier himself. There are so many of them and prosecution
means catching them red-handed. Even then, the Building Ordinance
/Office