It is shocking when one first moves here and starts to understand how many laws related to building and the environment are being violated, but ignoring it or becoming jaded will not help.

So welcome to Lamma.

Is illegal dumping something the Lands department can take action over? As mentioned in my post above (and as Alan suggested earlier) I want to speak directly with the landlord (and not his workers) first and then take further action from there.

Around Sai Kung, its more unusual to see a flat without a roof extension than with.

Ha - thanks! I will say that apart from all this nonsense, the people we have met have been fantastic.

I'm still confused though as to why construction waste can't be cleaned up. If the 'builders' have gone,... then isn't it the Landowners responsibility?? The one who paid to build the home?

Kuk seeks waiver on illegal sheds

Samson Lee

Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Heung Yee Kuk is seeking a special waiver for minor illegal structures after the Ombudsman accused the Buildings Department of acting too slowly on such structures in rural houses.
Kuk vice chairman Cheung Hok-ming said the council has set up a working group with the Development Bureau to handle illegal structures in the New Territories.

The council's suggestions include exempting several types of structures, such as roof sheds and air-conditioner frames.

"When the weather is as hot as 30 degrees Celsius, the temperature indoors may be higher," Cheung said on RTHK.

"Building [lounging] sheds on roofs is unavoidable, plus residents do not live in the sheds," he said, adding that exemptions may be allowed as long as the structures do not pose a threat to public safety.

"I do not think the government is deficient in monitoring and execution."

Detailed talks with the government on the working group's suggestions will be held after June.

Under the Buildings Ordinance, a New Territories exempted house cannot be over 8.23 meters or three stories high. Restrictions also apply to the roofed-over area and the thickness of each load-bearing wall.

Democratic Party lawmaker and Legislative Council housing panel chairman Lee Wing-tat slammed the suggested waivers, saying "such exemptions made by the government would create a difference in standards between the New Territories and urban areas."

Lee said: "The public must be consulted whether there should be a difference."

Lee said he will apply to introduce the topic in the panel meeting agenda.

Ombudsman Alan Lai Nin on Tuesday accused the Buildings Department of indirectly colluding with builders of illegal structures by not cracking down quickly enough.

He said that since 2006, enforcement has mainly been confined to unauthorized work-in-progress sites, while work that is almost finished is condoned.