Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing viewed signboard removal works in Mong Kok this morning and learnt about the Buildings Department’s work on handling dangerous and abandoned signboards.

Subsequent to receiving a public report, the department issued Dangerous Structure Removal Notices (DSRNs) to the owners of four abandoned signboards attached to the external wall of a building at Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok. As the notices were not complied with upon expiry, the department arranged for the removal of the signboards today.

The removal works were carried out at 8.30am to avoid disruption to traffic or inconvenience to nearby shops and pedestrians, the department noted.

Separately, the department said it had completed a Planned Sign Survey in Sham Shui Po in late October with about 300 DSRNs issued, and over 700 dangerous or abandoned signboards removed or repaired.

For the ongoing Planned Sign Survey in Tsuen Wan, about 140 DSRNs will be issued, involving some 200 dangerous or abandoned signboards.

There will be no less than 1,700 dangerous/abandoned signboards removed/repaired this year and at least 1,800 next year, the department added.

If a signboard is abandoned or has become dangerous, a DSRN will be issued pursuant to the Public Health & Municipal Services Ordinance to the owner concerned, the department stressed, adding that in case of non-compliance, it will arrange for signboard removal and recover the costs from the owner.