Over the decades, Hong Kong has different urban renewal strategies and plans to
cater to the changing needs of the society.
In January 1988, the establishment of Land Development Corporation (LDC) under
the relevant ordinance marked the beginning of a more focused and systematic
approach to tackling urban decay problems in Hong Kong. Through joint venture
partnerships with private developers, the LDC completed 16 urban renewal projects
and commenced another 10 projects. It also announced 25 other projects. Some
of the LDC’s redevelopment projects, including Jubilee Street / Queen’s Road
Central Project (The Center), Wing Lok Street / Queen’s Road Central Project
(Grand Millennium Plaza) and Argyle Street / Shanghai Street Project (Langham
Place), brought new life to decaying districts and many benefits to the community,
while laying a strong foundation for future urban renewal initiatives. By the end of
the 1990s, the urgency of urban renewal was recognised by the community, which
also supported new initiatives for an efficient, effective and sustainable urban
renewal programme for Hong Kong. In 1997, the Chief Executive of HKSAR
Government asserted the need to expedite urban renewal in his first Policy Address.
In June 2000, the Legislative Council passed the Urban Renewal Authority
Ordinance. In March 2001, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council also
endorsed the Government’s compensation policy for land resumption, which
provided the basis for the URA’s compensation policy. Two months later, in May
2001, the URA was established to steer urban renewal in a new direction, one that
was in accordance with guidelines set out in the Government’s Urban Renewal
Strategy (URS) of November 2001. The URA was required to give priority to the 25
projects previously announced by the LDC in 1988, but not yet commenced.
In view of the changing needs of the society, the Government launched an
extensive two-year public engagement process on the URS in 2008, to summarise
past experience as well as to explore new directions in urban renewal for the future.
In February 2011, the Government announced the new URS which stipulates a
“people first, district-based and public participatory” approach for urban renewal
in Hong Kong.
The URA is tasked to adopt “Redevelopment” and “Rehabilitation” as its core
businesses under the URS promulgated in 2011. The Authority should also preserve
heritage buildings if such preservation forms parts of its urban renewal projects.
Under the URS, the URA will continue to embrace new challenges in tackling urban
decay and endeavours to:
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improve the living environment of those people residing in dilapidated buildings;
improve the cityscape of old districts with urban renewal initiatives;
provide flats that suit the need of the mass market;
preserve heritage buildings within project sites for maintaining integral parts of
the city’s
history;
pursue environmentally sustainable development; and
achieve greater community engagement and ensure sensible use of public
resources
for a better future.
Redevelopment can replace dilapidated buildings with modern ones that meet present
standards and requirements, especially with regard to environmental protection and energy
efficiency. Through comprehensive planning, redevelopment also facilitates infrastructure
improvement; traffic and environmental provisions; and the addition of much needed
landscaped public open space, greening and community facilities, hence bringing benefits
to the community.
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The URA has implemented over 50 redevelopment projects, providing
around 37,000 square metres of public open space and around 75,000
square metres for use of Government/institution/community facilities. For
the sake of the community, certain portions of the commercial space of
redeveloped sites are reserved for social enterprises; and leased to
charitable and non-governmental organisations at nominal rents for social
and educational purposes.
To tackle the problem of urban decay more effectively, the URA takes
more diverse forms of redevelopment according to the URS promulgated in
2011 in order to respond to the property owners’ aspirations. Apart from
initiating redevelopment projects on its own, the URA also adopts the
“demand-led” approach and the “facilitator” role in order to take forward
the redevelopment work through a three-pronged approach.
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The “demand-led” form allows property owners to initiate redevelopment projects,
exemplifying the “bottom-up” approach and speeding up the pace of redevelopment. The
URA may respond to a joint approach from property owners to initiate redevelopment of their
lot(s)/building(s). After considering factors like the building conditions, planning gain and other
factors, the URA as an “implementer” may commence a redevelopment project, if approved
by the Financial Secretary, in accordance with the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance using
its statutory power and public money.
As of December 2013, the URA has commenced 8 demand-led redevelopment projects
229A-G Hai Tan Street Project in Sham Shui Po (DL1)
205-211A Hai Tan Street Project in Sham Shui Po (DL2)
Pine Street / Oak Street Project in Tai Kok Tsui (DL3)
Kowloon Road / Kiu Yam Street Project (DL4)
Tung Chau Street / Kweilin Street Project (DL5)
Fuk Chak Street / Li Tak Street Project (DL6)
Wong Chuk Street Project (DL7)
Kai Ming Street Demand-Led Redevelopment Project (DL8)
As a “facilitator”, the URA provides assistance to property owners to help them go through the
process of joint sale in the market, without exercising its statutory power nor using the public
money nor involving in any acquisition, compensation, rehousing and land resumption. The first
successful joint sale by public auction for a project under the Facilitating Services (pilot
scheme) is at 67 - 71 Lion Rock Road in Kowloon City (Details).
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Building rehabilitation is an important segment of urban renewal. It not only offers speedy
improvement to the living conditions of people in-situ and slows down the pace of urban
decay, but also reduces the pressure for redevelopment and retains community network. It
also fulfils the Government’s policy for sustainable development. Since 2004, the URA has
provided property owners with material subsidies and interest-free loans as well as other
assistances, including hardship grants, Third Party Risks Insurance Subsidy and professional
consultancy fees, aiming to motivate them to repair common areas of their buildings and to
create a safe, hygienic and better environment. In fact, rehabilitation is an all-win solution.
Property owners can enjoy better living environment and appreciation of the property
value; in addition, the district environment can also be enhanced.
For optimisation of resources and more effective implementation, the comprehensive
Integrated Building Maintenance Assistance Scheme (IBMAS)has been launched since 1
April 2011 and encompasses 4 major areas of assistance:
The URA also provides one-stop service and assistance for property owners, including
setting up a hotline service and resource centre, and providing advice on external
wall colour designs and technical assistance. Since 1 April 2013, the service boundary
of the URA under the IBMAS has extended to Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan and all Kowloon
districts, and will eventually cover the whole territory.
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The URA has assisted property owners of over 500 buildings to complete building
rehabilitation work. Building rehabilitation work includes the renovation of external
and internal walls; piping for drainage; flushing and public water supply; rooftop
waterproofing work; and the renewal of electrical and fire service installations.
In 2009, the Government launched a $3.5-billion ‘‘Operation Building Bright
(OBB)”. Apart from making $150 million contribution to the OBB as financial
support, the URA has also offered technical assistance to the property owners of
around 1,500 buildings within its schemes areas to carry out building repair and
maintenance work.
In addition, to complement the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme
implemented by the Buildings Department, the URA has launched the Mandatory
Building Inspection Subsidy Scheme (MBISS) to provide financial assistance to
eligible property owners for carrying out building inspection.
The URA preserves heritage buildings if such preservation forms part of its urban renewal
projects. Its objective is to restore heritage buildings to their former glory through a
pragmatic approach, while at the same time revitalise them for creative, cultural,
entertainment and commercial purposes for the public to enjoy. The URA may also
undertake preservation and revitalisation projects outside its redevelopment project
boundaries if there is policy support from the Government.
The URA also undertakes revitalisation projects, and has implemented street
beautification works in the vicinity of its redevelopment and rehabilitation projects to
uplift the district environment.
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The Art Community Project at Mallory Street in Wanchai was officially opened in July 2013,
being Hong Kong’s first ever “Comix Home Base”.
The design theme “Origin of Chinese Revolution” of the Pak Tsz Lane Garden is to highlight
its connection with the 1911 Chinese Revolution.
Transformation of the former Central Market building into “Central Oasis”.
Dozens of historical buildings in the URA’s redevelopment projects are preserved and
revitalised, including two clusters of Cantonese verandah buildings on Prince Edward
Road West and Shanghai Street.
After six years of planning and renovation work, the cluster of 4 shophouses and 1 pre-war
building of the Johnston Road project have been converted into specialty restaurants,
demonstrating harmonious co-existence of the old and the new.
The “Core Elements Preservation” approach is adopted to preserve key elements of the
Wan Chai Market building in-situ in Wan Chai Road / Tai Yuen Street Project.
Preserving the local characteristics within or in the vicinity of the URA’s redevelopment
projects such as the century-old street market outside the Peel Street / Graham Street
Development Scheme and “Sports Retail City” in the Sai Yee Street Project.
An open space near the Western Market has been beautified and turned into a multipurpose public square named Sheung Wan Cultural Square as a new hub for community
activities.
Various street beautification works implemented in the vicinity of the URA’s
redevelopment and rehabilitation projects in Tai Kok Tsui, Tsuen Wan and Tsim Sha Tsui.
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