XN000022-1993-11-23 — Page 2

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1993

BUILDING AUTHORITY STEPS UP CLAMPDOWN ON ILLEGAL WORKS

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS STEPPING UP PRESSURE ON THE OWNERS OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES.

FROM DECEMBER 1. IF OWNERS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH ORDERS FOR REMOVING UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS (UBW) AND DO NOT APPEAL, THE AUTHORITY WILL NOTIFY THEIR BANKS AND LENDING INSTITUTIONS WITH MORTGAGES ON PROPERTIES.

UNDER SECTION 24 OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, OWNERS OF PROPERTIES WITH UBW ARE REQUIRED TO REMOVE THEM AND REINSTATE THE BUILDING WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD ACCORDING TO THE APPROVED PLANS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID TODAY (TUESDAY)

IF THEY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH AN ORDER, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY THE POWER TO CARRY OUT THE NECESSARY WORK AND HOLD THE OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COSTS BY CREATING A FIRST CHARGE ON THE PROPERTY.

HAS

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"ULTIMATELY THIS MAY MEAN THAT THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAS THE POWER UNDER SECTION 33 OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO FORCE A SALE OF THE PROPERTY AND RECOVER ITS COSTS FROM THE PROCEEDS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONTROL) OF THE BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT, MR LOK CHE-LEUNG, SAID.

"THE AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT ALL BUILDING CARRIED OUT TO THE REQUIRED STANDARD," HE SAID.

WORK IS SAFE AND

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF WELL-PUBLICISED ACCIDENTS IN RECENT YEARS, SOME OF THEM FATAL, WHICH MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED HAD OWNERS SOUGHT PROFESSIONAL ADVICE AND OBTAINED THE NECESSARY APPROVAL OF THE BUILDING AUTHORITY BEFORE MAKING ALTERATIONS TO THEIR PROPERTY.

UNTIL NOW LENDING INSTITUTIONS HAVE NOT SEPARATELY BEEN INFORMED OF ANY ACTION THE BUILDING AUTHORITY MAY TAKE UNDER SECTION 24.

"IN VIEW OF OUR DETERMINATION TO ENFORCE THESE ORDERS, IF

NECESSARY BY USING A GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE COMPULSORY SALE OF THE PROPERTY, WE FEEL IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE BANKS

AS MUCH WARNING AS POSSIBLE OF ANY IMPENDING ACTION WHICH MAY AFFECT THEIR SECURITY.

"

"WE HAVE CONSULTED THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS ABOUT THE NEW NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES AND HAVE THE ASSOCIATION'S FULL SUPPORT, MR LOK ADDED.

STARTING ON DECEMBER 1, ALL LENDING INSTITUTIONS WITH MORTGAGES ON PROPERTIES INVOLVED WILL BE NOTIFIED SHORTLY AFTER AN ORDER HAS EXPIRED, IF THE OWNER HAS NOT STARTED OR COMPLETED REMOVAL OF THE UBW, AND HAS NOT NOTIFIED THE BUILDING AUTHORITY OF THE INTENTION TO APPEAL AGAINST THE ORDER.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS VARIOUS METHODS TO DISSUADE OWNERS FROM ILLEGALLY ALTERING THEIR BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, INCLUDING REGISTERING THE REMOVAL ORDERS IN THE LAND REGISTRY SO THAT POTENTIAL PURCHASERS OF PROPERTIES ARE ALERTED IF AN ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED.

/IN 1991