Buildings Dept acts on subdivided flats

August 21, 2012

The Buildings Department has issued removal orders to owners of Flat A4, 4/F, Hoi Hing Building, Tai Kok Tsui, and 4/F, 136 Shanghai Street, Yau Ma Tei after its staff identified unauthorised building works in these premises.
 
Inspections were made in response to media reports and enquiries.
 
In accordance with the Buildings Ordinance, the owners must rectify the irregularities within 60 days.
 
The Tai Kok Tsui flat was sub-divided into several rooms, each provided with a toilet and a kitchen. The building works did not obstruct or affect the means of escape, nor exhibit any obvious drainage defects, but one of the rooms was situated on a cantilevered slab balcony. The partitions sub-dividing the room and the thickening of the floor slab have caused overloading.
 
The Yau Ma Tei flat was sub-divided into several rooms with a common toilet and a common kitchen. The building works involved did not adversely affect the building’s structural safety nor exhibit any obvious drainage defects, but they obstructed the means of escape.