24 building plans approved in October in HK

HONG KONG, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- 24 building plans were approved in Hong Kong in October, with eight on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and 12 in the New Territories, Hong Kong Buildings Department said on Thursday.

Of the approved plans, 10 were for apartment and apartment/ commercial developments, four for commercial, one for factory and industrial and nine for community services, the department said.

Consent was given for work to start on 19 building projects that, when completed, will provide 120,436 square meters of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 1,495 units, and 56,155 square meters of gross floor area for non-domestic use.

The department has received notification of commencement of work for 19 building projects.

The department also issued 15 occupation permits -- seven on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and four in the New Territories.

Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor areas for domestic use were 145,181 square meters, involving 2,333 units, and 59,398 square meters for non-domestic use.

According to the figure released by the department, the declared cost of the new buildings completed in October totaled about 2 billion Hong Kong dollars (257.10 million U.S. dollars).