XN000022-1993-10-09+10 — Page 8

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1993

INAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS ARE COSTLY

ANYONE

THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) REITERATED THAT WHO CARRIED OUT BUILDING WORKS WITHOUT PERMISSION MIGHT FACE HEFTY FINES, INCLUDING A DAILY FINE FOR EACH DAY WHEN THE OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED.

THE REMINDER CAME SHORTLY AFTER A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A COMPANY WAS FINED A TOTAL OF 961,690 FOR FAILING TO DEMOLISH AN ILLEGAL STRUCTURE ON THE ROOF OF A BUILDING IN TO KWA WAN.

THE CASE CAME TO LIGHT ON FEBRUARY

1991, WHEN BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT STAFF, ACTING ON A COMPLAINT, INSPECTED THE ROOF OF 3, WING KWONG STREET.

THEY DISCOVERED THAT CERTAIN UNAUTHORISED BUILDING BEING CARRIED OUT THERE.

WORKS WERE

THE COURT HEARD THAT A DEMOLITION ORDER WAS ISSUED BY THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT ON JULY 15, 1991 REQUIRING THE OWNER, THE NICE FORTUNE DEVELOPMENT LIMITED, TO REMOVE THE UNAUTHORISED WORKS AND REINSTATE THE AFFECTED PARTS OF THE BUILDING WITHIN 27 DAYS.

INSPECTIONS.

THE DEFENDENT WAS TAKEN TO COURT AFTER SUBSEQUENT REVEALED THAT THE STATUTORY ORDER HAD NOT BEEN COMPILED WITH.

HE WAS CONVICTED AND FINED $42,100 AT SAN PO KONG MAGISTRACY ON JANUARY 13 LAST YEAR. THE FINE INCLUDED A DAILY FINE OF $200 FOR 152 DAYS FROM THE EXPIRY DATE OF THE DEMOLITION ORDER TO THE DATE OP

· “ONVICTION.

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THE COMPANY LODGED AN APPEAL TO THE HIGH COURT AGAINST THE CONVICTION BUT IT WAS DISMISSED ON JUNE 26 LAST YEAR DUE TO THE APPELLANT'S ABSENCE AT THE HEARING.

THE DEFENDENT WAS TAKEN PO COURT AGAIN AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIONS REVEALED THAT THE UNAUTHOR | SED BUILDING WORKS WERE STILL INTACT.

HE PLEADED GUILTY AT SAN PO KONG MAGISTRACY ON JULY 23 THIS YEAR AND WAS FINED $9,000 PLUS A DAILY FINE TOTALLING $10,290 FOR 343 DAYS.

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