Redhill Peninsula homeowners fined $275,000 for unauthorized building works

The Buildings Department (BD) said on Monday that owners of three detached houses at Redhill Peninsula have been fined a total of HK$275,000 for carrying out unauthorized building works.

The three homeowners pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts last Thursday (Jan 8), according to the department’s spokesman.

They were found to have made structural modifications without the department’s approval, such as adding structures to the garden, open yard, living room, bedroom, flat roof, and rooftop.

The spokesman said prosecutions started in August and September 2024, resulting in fines of HK$130,000, HK$85,000, and HK$60,000, respectively, for three owners.

These prosecutions resulted from the department’s large-scale operation in September 2023, aimed at inspecting houses along the coastal area of Redhill Peninsula.

The Buildings Department has so far taken prosecution action against 30 detached houses in the area.

Of these, 24 cases have resulted in convictions for breaching section 14(1) of the Buildings Ordinance, with court proceedings ongoing for the remainder.

A spokesman reminded owners to consult registered building professionals to ensure compliance with regulations.

The government plans to introduce a bill to the Legislative Council this year to amend the Buildings Ordinance, including higher penalties for serious unauthorized works to enhance deterrence.

Under section 40(1AA) of the Buildings Ordinance, anyone who knowingly carries out building works without approval faces a maximum fine of HK$400,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment.