April saw 37 building plans approved and 12 occupation permits issued, with the declared cost of the new buildings completed in the month totalling about $1.6 billion, the Buildings Department says.

Of the 37 approved building plans, 13 were on Hong Kong Island, 12 in Kowloon and 12 in the New Territories. Twelve were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, 11 for commercial developments, five for factory and industrial developments and nine for community-services developments.

Consent was given for work to start on 13 building projects that, when completed, will offer 84,239 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 787 units, and 40,860 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use. Work commencement notification for seven building projects were received.

Of the 12 occupation permits issued, five were on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and three in the New Territories. The gross floor areas for domestic use were 24,636 square metres, involving 352 units, and 66,391 square metres for non-domestic use.

Three demolition consents were issued. The month saw 2,249 complaints against unauthorised building works and 6,434 removal orders issued on unauthorised works.