The Buildings Department approved 21 building plans in December last year - six on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and 11 in the New Territories.

Two were for apartment and apartment-commercial developments, eight were for commercial developments, two were for factories and industry and nine were for community services.

Consent was given for work to start on 17 projects that when completed will provide 100,177 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 893 units, and 89,667 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

23 occupation permits

The department also issued 23 occupation permits - six on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and 12 in the New Territories.

Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic use were 281,478 square metres, involving 3,347 units, and 29,697 square metres for non-domestic use.

The declared cost of the new buildings completed in December was $3.07 billion. Meanwhile, 10 demolition consents involving 10 building structures were issued.