The Buildings Department approved 23 building plans in October - 11 on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.

Of the approved plans, 10 are for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, seven are for commercial developments and six are for community-services developments.

Consent was given for work to start on 13 building projects that, when completed, will provide 23,133 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 232 units, and 69,957 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

The department has received notification of commencement of work for 10 building projects.

It has also issued 13 occupation permits - three on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and nine in the New Territories.

Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic use were 16,224 square metres, involving 207 units, and 12,163 square metres for non-domestic use.

New buildings' declared cost totalled $371m

The declared cost of the new buildings completed in October totalled about $371 million.

In addition, two demolition consents involving two building structures were issued.

The department received 2,348 complaints against unauthorised building works in October, and issued 1,392 removal orders on unauthorised works.