Sustainability is URA’s corporate commitment. It interweaves the various stages of urban
renewal as well as being a tenet that drives our policies and operations. In addition to
environmental sustainable efforts, we are also committed to ensuring social sustainability in our
work. In the latter half of 2012, a dedicated team was set up to coordinate our sustainability
efforts.
The URA endeavours to promote and implement environmentally sustainable development. To
this end, we have stipulated that the design and construction of our redevelopment projects
must, in keeping with the Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) and related regulatory requirements,
incorporate green initiatives with respect to greening, energy efficiency, water conservation,
facilities for collection of recyclable waste, use of recycled materials and reduction of
construction waste. To take our environmental initiatives forward, the URA has engaged an
environmental consultant in 2009 to develop a comprehensive policy drawing on URA's past
work as well as making reference to relevant overseas experience and existing technology.
Energy Efficiency
Sun-shading provisions, energy efficiency of electrical, lighting, lift
and escalator installations, high thermal performance structural
fabric (e.g. low e-glass), solar hot water system, energy saving
air-conditioning devices, water-cooled chiller system, heat recovery
system, etc.
Water Conservation
Dual flushing/low volume cistern, condensate collection
system and rain-water collection system for irrigation or
flushing, grey water recycling system, etc.
Environmentally-Friendly
Building Materials
Materials non-damaging to ozone, recycled plastic bottles and
rubber tyres for children's playground flooring, recycled plastic
and wood wastes for flooring of landscaped areas, etc.
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Greening
Landscaped open space, roof garden, vertical greening, street
planting, etc.
Facilities for Collection of
Recyclable Waste
e.g. Domestic waste, etc.
Reduction of Construction Waste and
Environmental Nuisance
Waste management plan, introduction of noise mitigation
measures, etc.
The redevelopment of Kwun Tong Town Centre illustrates a comprehensive and visionary design that
includes optimisation of the disposition and form of buildings to ensure adequate noise mitigation and
air ventilation; preservation of 25 old trees and the employment of vertical and rooftop greenery
techniques to provide a green coverage of around 30% (making it one of the greenest spots in the
city); utilisation of water-cooled chillers and mixed-mode air-conditioning system in the commercial
portion to lower the energy consumption.
URA recognises that it is in a position to be an advocate of green building design as part of urban
renewal, and high environmental standards are therefore imposed on both our self-developed projects
and projects that are implemented through joint ventures. Eight redevelopment projects have achieved
the Hong Kong BEAM Platinum (Final) rating as of March 2013, of which are Mount Davis 33 in
Kennedy Town, Vision City in Tsuen Wan, i-home, Florient Rise and Lime Stardom in Tai Kok Tsui,
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Island Crest in Sai Ying Pun, Queen's Cube in Wan Chai and Baker Residences in Hung Hom.
Setting a high green building standard for these eight projects has motivated the respective designs
to optimise use of resources through various measures. It also propagates an important supply chain
effect on the downstream consumers as the residential flats were installed with energy-efficient and
water-efficient appliances.
As of March 2013, the 8 accredited projects with BEAM Platinum (Final) Rating by the Hong Kong
Green Building Council have achieved:
The URA’s projects also take into account the local characteristics of individual district. For
instance, in view of the higher proportion of elderly in Sham Shui Po, the URA has planned
to incorporate elderly-friendly design features for the flats in the district. Another example is a
century-old street market. In order to preserve and sustain this market near the site of the
Graham Street/Peel Street Development Scheme in Central, the URA invested an extra of
HK$200 million and prolonged the schedule for two years so that the project could be
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implemented by phases to provide temporary shops for shops selling perishable goods. Such
arrangements help sustaining the market vibrancy. Without URA’s intervention, the market
might have degenerated like other markets in the neighbourhood.
The URA’s acquisition policy comprises cash compensation or rehousing, both of which can
improve the living standards of affected households. For example, among the respondents in
a social impact tracking study commissioned by the URA and undertaken by the Chinese
University of Hong Kong for the Kwun Tong Town Centre project, more than 70% of affected
domestic respondents feel satisfied with their improved quality of living after relocation while
85% of non-domestic respondents have continued business in better premises in the district
after relocation.
According to the ongoing projects during the 2012/2013 financial year, 244 eligible tenant
households were compensated with cash and 107 eligible tenant households were re-housed
in public housing estates of which 98% were re-housed in urban areas.
To embrace more diversified uses of the urban space, the URA has offered concessionary
tenancy to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social enterprises (SEs) both in our
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acquired properties and dedicated preserved historical buildings, e.g. Hong Chi Association,
Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association.
For 2012/13 financial year, the URA provided:
Besides redevelopment and rehabilitation to improve the living conditions and economy in the
old districts, the URA also brings arts and culture to the local community, with an aim to
integrate arts and cultural elements in urban renewal, to enhance the quality of living of
those residents.
Urban renewal projects also bring benefits to local economies. One of the URA’s major tasks
is to revitalise old districts by enhancing the socio-economic and environmental fabric for the
benefit of the community. Redevelopment can unleash the hidden economic energy of old
districts, and also boost economic activity in the surrounding areas. Langham Place in
MongKok is a good example of such. Recent URA projects have also increased the number
of street shops and small shops with particular attention to maintaining the street vibrancy.
These projects have contributed to improved streetscapes that have benefited local residents
and increased patronage flow, boosting local businesses. In addition, Rehabilitation can
enhance the value of old buildings, hence revitalising the secondary market of old buildings.
By extending the useful life of the buildings concerned, rehabilitation effectively contributes to
the reduction of solid waste that may otherwise be generated during building demolition,
thereby lessening the burden on our landfills which are nearing their capacities. While
improving building safety and cityscape, rehabilitation can achieve the dual objectives of
creating more job opportunities in the related sectors.
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