Introduction - HKU Libraries - The University of Hong Kong

1Introduction1.1 In April 1995, the Office of the Commissioner forAdministrative Complaints (OCAC) published a report on a directinvestigation under Section 7(l)(b) of the Commissioner forAdministrative Complaints (COMAC) Ordinance (Cap. 397) on theBuildings Department's (BD's) enforcement action againstunauthorised building works (UBW). In the report, COMAC hadexpressed concern on the existence of UBW in village houses inthe New Territories (NT) and suggested that appropriate andeffective measures should be taken by the Lands Department (LandsD) and the BD to prevent the recurrence of the UBW problem inmulti-storey buildings in NT village houses.1.2 COMAC's primary concern is that there are prima facieevidence that the problems of UBW in village houses in the NTare proliferating and becoming more serious and that theenforcement actions taken by the Lands D and the BD against themappear inadequate and ineffective* COMAC thus decided to conducta direct investigation on the enforcement procedures and actionsagainst UBW in NT exempted houses (NTEHs) under Section 7(1) (b)of the COMAC Ordinance.PURPOSE AND AMBIT OF THE INVESTIGATION1.3 The main purpose of the investigation is to study theprocedures and actions of the District Lands Offices (DLOs) ofthe Lands D in the enforcement of UBW in NTEHs with a view toestablishing if -(a) the existing procedures are adequate andeffective; and(b)they are being carried out consistently by theDLOs.1.4 The investigation focused on the following issues inrespect of UBW in NTEHs .-(a)Policy, conditions and procedures for approving