***********************************
The Buildings Department approved 29 building plans in March - 14 on Hong Kong Island, 10 in Kowloon and five in the New Territories.
Of the approved plans, 11 were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, five were for commercial developments, four were for factory and industrial developments and nine were for community services developments.
In the same month, consent was given for work to start on 19 building projects that, when completed, will provide 68,245 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 1,404 units, and 69,168 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of work for 14 building projects.
The department also issued seven occupation permits - three in Kowloon and four in the New Territories.
Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic use were 107,890 square metres, involving 1,466 units, and 91,505 square metres for non-domestic use.
The declared cost of the new buildings completed in March totalled about $2.025 billion.
In addition, nine demolition consents involving nine building structures were issued.
The department received 2,307 complaints against unauthorised building works in March, and issued 6,155 removal orders on unauthorised works.
The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed by members of the public on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, April 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 10:50
NNNN