Nineteen building plans approved in October

     The Buildings Department approved 19 building plans in October, with seven on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, seven were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, seven were for commercial developments, one was for factory and industrial developments, and four were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 12 building projects which, when completed, will provide 190 025 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 3 083 units, and 24 897 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of works for nine building projects.
 
     The department also issued 20 occupation permits, with six on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 38 720 sq m involving 409 units, and 189 064 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in October totalled about $5.7 billion.
 
     In addition, eleven demolition consents involving 11 building structures were issued.
 
     The department received 2 804 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in October and issued 1 248 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for October can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).