Seventeen building plans approved in January

     The Buildings Department approved 17 building plans in January, with five on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, 10 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, five were for commercial developments, and two were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 11 building projects which, when completed, will provide 11 333 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 46 units, and 79 762 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for eight building projects.

     The department also issued 15 occupation permits, with two on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and five in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 24 112 sq m involving 468 units, and 28 086 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in January totalled about $2.1 billion.

     In addition, six demolition consents involving six building structures were issued.

     The department received 1 718 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in January and issued 257 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for January can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).