In line with the special work arrangement to reduce social contacts announced by the Government on 21 March 2020, the Buildings Department (BD) will adjust its public service to provide emergency, essential and limited public services from 23 March 2020 [https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/whats-new/press-releases/2020/0322-special-work-arrangements-for-buildings-department-services-from-march-23.html].
Based on experience gained in the past two months, the opening hours of the Receipt and Dispatch Counter at 7/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Hong Kong will open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for receiving statutory submissions and related documents and forms for new building works. For plans and related documents processed, applicants would be individually contacted to collect the relevant plans and documents from the Receipt and Dispatch Counter on Tuesday or Thursday. All AP/RSE Rooms in New Building Divisions (NBD) office will continue to be closed until further notice.
Regarding submissions received before, BD will concentrate on processing applications for approval of plans, consent applications and occupation permit applications approaching due dates as well as the related site inspections. For statutory submissions received on or after 18 February, priority will be accorded to more critical submissions1.
To facilitate processing of submissions under the special work arrangement, each submission should be accompanied with a DVD-ROM disc containing the soft copy of all the documents (plans, calculations, reports, etc.) and a set of A3-size hard copy of the submitted plans. If available, a hyperlink for access to the soft copy of the subject submitted plans and supporting documents would be furnished with the case officer via his/her office email address2 or NBDs’ dedicated email address at vhs@bd.gov.hk. The soft copy of the submitted Forms BA8, BA13, BA14 and BA14A may be forwarded to the email address of the case senior officers and/or case officers2.
Under the special work arrangement, the handling time of the submissions would inevitably be longer than usual, particularly those to be processed under the centralised processing system.
The case officers may contact AP/RSE/RGE to clarify queries on the plan submissions via telephone or email or accept invitation for case discussion via video conferencing. If the plans are considered as approvable under the Buildings Ordinance (BO) but subject to minor amendments, the plans would be approved and the issues to be rectified/clarified would be listed out in the approval letter. AP/RSE/RGE are required to address these issues in future amendment submission for approval before applying for consent to the commencement of the works. In this connection, AP/RSE/RGE are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that all these issues be fully complied with the relevant regulations and codes of practice before commencement of the works as well as rectifying any contravention of the BO and its subsidiary regulations as and when they are discovered and in any event, before certification of completion of works.
Please contact us by email at vhs@bd.gov.hk for enquiries on urgent matters regarding statutory submissions of new development projects.
BD will continue to closely liaise with the relevant professional institutions and stakeholder organisations in our review on the above arrangement.
Buildings Department
22 March 2020
They refer to (i) first submission of general building plans, foundation plans, excavation and lateral support plans and pile cap plans; (ii) amendment plans required for re-application of occupation permits or related to site works being in progress; (iii) applications and re-applications of occupation permit; (iv) applications for consent for commencement of works that are critical milestone to enable works to continue; and (v) certification of completion of building works not resulting in a new building (e.g. alteration and addition works, foundation works, etc.).
Email address is available at https://tel.directory.gov.hk/index_BD_ENG.html)