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The Chief Executive announced in his 1999 Policy Address the setting
up of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to replace the Land Development
Corporation and to expedite urban renewal. The URA was established in
May 2001 to undertake a 20-year urban renewal programme. In November 2001,
the Government promulgated the Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) after wide
public consultation, setting out the policy guidelines for the URA in
the implementation of the urban renewal programme.
The purpose of urban renewal is to improve the environment
of the older urban areas and the living conditions of the residents therein
through a comprehensive and holistic approach comprising the redevelopment
of dilapidated buildings, the promotion of the rehabilitation of older
buildings, the revitalisation of old districts and the preservation of
buildings of historical, cultural or architectural interest.
The Government has put in place a financial support
package for the URA to enable it to launch the urban renewal programme
on a sound financial footing. In May 2002, the Executive Council approved
in principle land grants at nominal premium for urban renewal sites. The
Finance Committee of the Legislative Council also approved in June 2002
a commitment of $10 billion for equity injection into the URA in phases
from 2002-03 to 2006-07. A total of $4 billion had been injected into
the URA by year-end.
To facilitate the implementation of the urban renewal
programme, the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau keeps under close review
the delivery of the programme in the annual examination of the URA's five-year
Corporate Plan and annual Business Plan; provides the necessary support
and policy guidance to the URA; monitors and facilitates the implementation
of individual projects, including vetting development projects having
regard to any objections raised under the statute; oversees land resumption
and clearance exercises to be undertaken by the Lands Department; and
will review the URS regularly to take account of the community's changing
needs.
The Planning Department supports the operation of
the URA from the planning perspective so as to optimise the community
benefits of URA projects and to ensure compliance with the statutory planning
requirements. The department undertakes planning studies to assist in
the formulation and review of the URS and will develop a comprehensive
geographical information system to allow for the sharing of information
on building conditions among various government departments for the purpose
of drawing up and updating the rehabilitation and urban renewal programme.
In addition, the department is involved in processing development schemes
and master layout plans submitted by the URA for the Town Planning Board's
consideration; and coordinating the provision of infrastructure, government,
institution or community facilities and open space in URA projects.
The URA has made steady progress in taking forward
a comprehensive urban renewal programme. By December, it had launched
13 redevelopment projects, two of which are carried out by the Hong Kong
Housing Society (HKHS) under the URA/HKHS strategic partnership in urban
renewal. In October, the URA extended its voluntary building rehabilitation
pilot scheme whereby material incentives and technical assistance are
provided to owners of old buildings to encourage them to undertake preventive
maintenance. The URA also began a number of revitalisation projects during
the year to renew the environment and economic fabric of old districts. |
