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The Buildings Department (BD) has been taking vigorous action to remove dangerous and abandoned signboards resulting in the removal of over 4,700 such signboards in the past three years.
"We will increase the target of removing dangerous or abandoned signboards from 1,200 per year to 2,000 this year to better protect public safety," a spokesman for the department said today (January 25).
"To curb the proliferation of newly erected unauthorised signboards, BD has since March 2002 arranged to carry out inspections within 48 hours upon receipt of any complaints relating to unauthorised building works including signboards under construction," he said.
"We have also enlisted the support of District Councils and the Home Affairs Department in encouraging owners' corporations of private buildings and members of the public to report dangerous or abandoned signboards to us for follow up action," he said.
In 2004, 2005 and 2006, BD removed 1,496, 1,597 and 1,690 dangerous or abandoned signboards respectively, of which 1,310, 1,383 and 1,366 were abandoned signboards.
"Signboard owners have the responsibility to properly maintain their signboards. They should also remove their signboards when moving shop premises or upon closing down the business. BD will issue Dangerous Structure Removal Notices to owners of signboards under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance to remove any dangerous or abandoned signboards to eliminate any potential danger that these signboards may pose to the public," he said.
BD will arrange to carry out removal works if signboard owners fail to comply with the Removal Notices within the specified period of 14 days. Full costs of the removal works will be recovered from the owners, the spokesman said.
"Under the Buildings Ordinance (BO), no person shall carry out any building works, including the construction of signboards, without the prior approval and consent of the Building Authority. An authorised person should be appointed to coordinate and supervise the works, and a registered contractor to carry out the works," he added.
Owners who, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with orders requiring the removal of unauthorised signboards may be prosecuted and are liable on conviction to a maximum penalty of a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for one year; and a daily fine of $20,000, the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, January 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:23
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