TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 152

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