Twenty-three building plans approved in March

     The Buildings Department approved 23 building plans in March, with seven on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, five were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, 11 were for commercial developments, one was for factory and industrial development, and six were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which, when completed, will provide 155 809 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2 085 units, and 20 875 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for five building projects.
 
     The department also issued 19 occupation permits, with three on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and 12 in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 13 792 sq m involving 432 units, and 88 192 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in March totalled about $5.3 billion.
 
     In addition, 11 demolition consents involving 11 building structures were issued.
 
     The department received 2 321 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in March and issued 697 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).