More than 1 200 members of the public today (July 11) participated in person or online in a seminar on "Important Notes to Interior Alteration and Addition Works in Domestic Premises" organised by the Buildings Department (BD) in collaboration with professional institutes to learn more about the points to note when carrying out interior fitting-out works and the statutory requirements under the Buildings Ordinance (BO). A video recording of the talk will be uploaded to the BD's E-learning Centre in due course.
The seminar was held at the Building Information Centre of the BD and co-organised by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), the Structural Division (SD) of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS). Apart from representatives of the BD, today's speakers included the President of the HKIA, Mr Benny Chan; Member of the Board of Local Affairs of the HKIA Mr Adrian Lo; the Deputy Chairman of the SD of the HKIE, Mr Kevin Tang; the Honorary Secretary of the SD, Mr Chin Sai-ping; the Chairman of the Building Surveying Division of the HKIS, Mr Arthur Cheung; and former President of the HKIS Mr Vincent Ho. They provided clear explanations and appropriate professional advice on the relevant interior alteration and addition works for domestic premises according to their areas of expertise.
Moreover, a set of frequently asked questions and answers on "Alteration and Addition Works in Domestic Premises" has been uploaded to the BD's website for public reference.
In response to public enquiries about how to interpret the basic information on approved plans such as the location of structural walls and the fire resisting construction of kitchens, the BD will also hold two thematic seminars on "Basic Knowledge of Approved Plans" on July 24 and 28, which will also be conducted in Cantonese in both physical and online modes and are free of charge. Interested persons can visit the BD's thematic website for more details and seat reservations. A video recording of this talk will also be uploaded to the BD's E-learning Centre in due course.
The BD will continue to organise public education programmes on building safety, including seminars specifically for owners' corporations, the property management industry, and the interior design and fitting-out industry, in order to enhance law-abiding awareness of the general public and promote a building safety culture.
The BD stressed that it is the responsibility of owners to keep their buildings free of unauthorised building works. Any person who intends to carry out alteration and addition works is advised to consult a building professional for advice, including the feasibility of the proposed works, and where necessary, apply for approval and consent from the BD prior to commencement of works to ensure building safety and compliance with the BO. Building professionals and contractors are also required to carefully inspect the approved plans and other relevant documents in detail, to observe the relevant requirements under the BO, and to ascertain the necessity of prior approval from the BD before commencement of the works, to ensure the safety of occupants and buildings.
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