Section 124 of Public Health Act CAP 242: Demolition of unfit dwellings
(1) Where any such nuisance as is mentioned in section 118 is proved to exist with respect to a dwelling, and the court is satisfied that such dwelling is so dilapidated or so defectively constructed or so situated that repairs to or alterations of the same are not likely to remove the nuisance and make such dwelling fit for human habitation, the court may order the owner thereof to commence to demolish the dwelling and any other structures on the premises on or before a specified day, being at least one month from the date of issuing the order, and to complete the demolition and to remove the materials which comprised the same from the site before another specified day.
(2) The court shall give notice to the occupier of a dwelling in respect of which such an order has been issued requiring him to move therefrom within a time to be specified in such notice, and if any person fails to comply with such notice or enter the dwelling or premises after the date fixed except for the purpose of demolition he shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) If any person fails to comply with such an order for demolition, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable to pay the daily fine provided in section 121, and the health authority may cause the dwelling and any other structures on the premises to be demolished, and may recover from the owner the expense incurred in doing so after deducting the net proceeds of the sale of the materials, which the health authority may sell by auction.
(4) No compensation shall be paid by the health authority to the owner or occupier of any dwelling or other structure in respect of the demolition thereof as aforesaid, and from the date of the demolition order no rent shall be due or payable by or on behalf of the occupier in respect of such dwelling or structure.
(5) In this section, “the court” means a subordinate court of the first class.
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