Hong Kong Regulations

BUILDING (PLANNING) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 46

Tenement house

(1) No tenement house shall be erected with a depth from the front main wall
or, if any balcony is projected from the front main wall, from the front of
every such balcony to the nearest rear main wall exceeding 10 m unless
exempted by the Building Authority. (L.N. 33 of 1966)

(2) (a) Save where exempted by the Building Authority, every storey of every
tenement house shall be provided with a window in such rear main wall of such
storey.

   (b)  Such window shall be so constructed that-

        (i)    the aggregate superficial area of the glass in the window is at
               least 1.5 m2;

        (ii)   the window can, to an extent of at least 1.5 m2, be opened into
               the open air in such a manner that the top of the opening is at
               least 2 m above the level of the floor. (G.N.A. 83 of 1959)

(3) No windows required under these regulations in any tenement house shall be
obstructed by the erection of any structure either inside or outside the
building.

(4) (a) The internal area of every kitchen in a tenement house shall be-

        (i)    not less than 3.75 m where the total area of the domestic
               premises of which such kitchen forms part, does not exceed 45
               m2;

        (ii)   not less than 4.5 m2 where the total area of the domestic
               premises of which such kitchen forms part, exceeds 45 m2 but
               does not exceed 70 m2;

        (iii)  not less than 5.5 m2 where the total area of the domestic
               premises of which such kitchen forms part, exceeds 70 m2.

   (b)  In no case shall the smaller dimension of such kitchen be less than
        1.5 m.

(5) For the purpose of these regulations a tenement house means any building
in the domestic part of which any living room is intended or adapted for the
use of more than one tenant or sub-tenant. In this
regulation "living room" (起居室) means any room intended or adapted as a
place for cooking or sleeping. (L.N. 294 of 1976)

"living room" (起居室)