Prior approval has to be obtained from the Building Authority before carrying out any building works (such as construction, repair, demolition, alteration and drainage works), otherwise the works shall be deemed unauthorized.
Any person who carries out building works without prior approval shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $400,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years, and to a fine of $20,000 for each day during which the offence has continued.
Owners may engage building professionals to check whether existing building works are lawful. Building professionals may also be entrusted with access on behalf of, for example the owners' corporation, to the approved building plans and occupation permits kept by the Buildings Department.
Unauthorized building works include:
altering the fire escape or carrying out unauthorized building works on rooftop and podium;
opening an exit or vent, etc. at the staircase behind the smoke lobby door;
erecting additional metal cages, canopies, flower racks, etc. without prior approval;
installing swing-out gates which obstruct the fire escape;
illegally connecting drain pipes/drains, such as foul water drain pipes/drains to storm-water drain pipes/drains, etc.
Should any unauthorized building works be found, the matter should be reported to the Buildings Department for investigation and action as soon as possible.
The Buildings Department's Hotline: 2626 1616
Hotline for Complaining Against Unauthorized Building Works in Progress: 2626 1313
(The hotlines are handled by 1823.)