The co-operation of owners is essential to reducing the number of illegal structures, Director of Buildings Marco Wu says.

Speaking on a radio talkshow today, Mr Wu said the Government has conducted extensive exercises in the last few years to remove illegal structures. However, due to a manpower shortage, his department can only remove about 30,000 illegal structures annually.

He said the Government cannot solve the problem alone without the co-operation of owners.

Mr Wu said the Buildings (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 which will come into effect on December 31 will enable the introduction of warning notices, the prosecution of unco-operative owners and increase fines for certain offences.

He said the ordinance empowers the Building Authority to issue notices to owners over unauthorised building works and to register them in the Land Registry if the works are not removed within a specified period.

He hoped that with the tougher penalties, coupled with the enhanced publicity, will help reduce the number of illegal structures in the territory.