Hong Kong Buildings Department ‘taking too long to clear unauthorised structures’

The audit watchdog has hit out at the Buildings Department for taking too long to issue removal orders against unauthorised structures and not ensuring the structures are cleared promptly after an order has been issued.

Some removal orders have been outstanding for 30 years, which was described by a housing panel lawmaker as "unacceptable" as it gives the impression the department is a "toothless tiger".

According to the department's guidelines, removal orders should be issued within 180 days after an inspection is done.

But the Audit Commission's report released yesterday showed that, as of October last year, the department had not issued orders on 4,522 unauthorised works even though inspections had been completed from six months to five years earlier.

Even when the orders were issued, the report criticised the department for taking too long to follow up.

The watchdog revealed that there were 68,134 outstanding removal orders as of October last year, with 21 per cent of the cases outstanding for more than six years to as long as 10 years.

About 1 per cent of the cases have been outstanding for between 10 and 30 years.