The Buildings Department approved 23 building plans in March - seven on Hong Kong Island, seven in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.

Five were for apartment and apartment-commercial developments, 11 for commercial developments, one for factory and industrial development, and six for community services developments.

Consent was given for works to start on nine building projects which will provide 155,809 sq m 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 issued 19 occupation permits - three on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and 12 in the New Territories.

Buildings certified for occupation have 13,792 sq m of gross floor area for domestic use involving 432 units and 88,192 sq m for non-domestic use.

The declared cost of new buildings completed in the month was $5.3 billion.