A Hong Kong court has fined a flat owner HK$180,000 (US$23,160) for wilfully removing a load-bearing wall without approval as part of a HK$1 million modification of his new home.
Magistrate Lau Suk-han said on Monday that owner Ku Chun-ho bore responsibility for checking whether removing one of the three walls in his 681 sq ft flat in Lohas Park’s The Capitol, in Tseung Kwan O, was a structural one and required approval from the Buildings Department.
The court heard that documents concerning the renovation plans were signed off by the defendant, which indicated that Ku was informed and agreed to the removal of the wall.
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“The defendant is responsible for checking whether the construction involved the removal of a structural wall, but he refused to do so,” the magistrate said.
“If that wall was a structural wall, he would have to obtain approval from the Buildings Department, and the result would not be what he expected.”
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She added the defendant’s violation of the Building Ordinance was a clear case of “wilful blindness” and posed a danger to the building structure and other properties.