XN000022-1997-02-04 — Page 16

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Twenty-eight new building plans approved in December

The Buildings Department approved a total of 28 building plans in December last year - eight on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and 14 in the New Territories.

The approved plans covered 11 for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, nine for commercial developments, four for factory and industrial developments, and four for community services developments.

Consent was given in the month for work to start on 45 building projects, which will provide 225,898 square metres of usable domestic floor area and 130,997 square metres of usable non-domestic floor area on completion.

The department also issued 40 occupation permits - six on Hong Kong Island, 12 in Kowloon and 22 in the New Territories.

Of the buildings certified for occupation in December, the usable floor area for domestic and non-domestic uses was 183,876 square metres and 111,227 square metres respectively.

The declared cost of new buildings completed totalled about $4,441 million.

In addition, 17 demolition consents involving 17 buildings and structures were issued.

The department's Control and Enforcement Division received 786 complaints of unauthorised building works in December, and issued 193 removal orders on unauthorised works.

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Public consultation on special number arrangements

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) today (Tuesday) released a paper entitled Special Number Arrangements to consult the public on a proposed new mechanism of allocating special numbers to operators and users of telecommunications services in Hong Kong.

"The proposed new arrangements enable an end customer to bid for the right to use a particular number which he or she values highly.

"At present, end customers do not have a choice over such numbers which are valuable public resources. With the proposed mechanism, the allocation of numbers to operators and consumers will be conducted in a more transparent and equitable manner," a government spokesman said.