URA sets up District Advisory Committee for Kwun Tong
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today ( Tuesday) announced the
setting up of the Kwun Tong District Advisory Committee (DAC) to
collect public views and suggestions on urban renewal, in
particular the Kwun Tong Town Centre redevelopment project which
will be the largest single project undertaken by the URA.
The DAC members come from different walks of life including
Legislative Councillors, district leaders, property owners, social
workers, professionals, academic, banker and businessmen. The
appointments are for one year. The committee will be chaired by a
URA Board Member, Professor David Lung, who has been participating
in urban renewal work as a Board Member of the former Land
Development Corporation and the URA since 1995.
The main responsibility of DAC is to reflect the views of the
local community and provide advice to the URA on issues relating to
urban renewal, including redevelopment, preservation,
revitalisation and rehabilitation in the district.
The committee will hold its first meeting on November 4 and is
expected to focus initially on the planning, design and
implementation arrangement for the 5.3-hectare Kwun Tong Town
Centre redevelopment project.
This is the 5th DAC set up by the Authority since 2002, the other
four being in Central and Western, Sham Shui Po, Wan Chai and Yau
Tim Mong districts. Experience has shown that the DACs provide an
effective link between the URA Board and the local communities in
enabling the input of public views and aspirations into the
planning and implementation process of the Authority's urban
renewal projects.
Apart from providing advice to the Authority at regular meetings,
DACs would also organise community workshops and conduct various
research and studies to collect views from the wider
community.
The Chairman of the URA, Mr Edward Cheng, said: "The URA attaches
much importance to the concerns and aspirations of the community on
project planning. The DACs have proved to be enlightening and
instructive in shaping our vision, planning and strategy that are
responsive to the community. The DACs also help us forge a strong
partnership with the local community."
"Kwun Tong will see the largest redevelopment project ever
undertaken by the Authority - the Kwun Tong Town Centre project.
When fully redeveloped, we hope that it will serve not only as a
town centre for the residents of Kwun Tong but also as a meeting
hub in East Kowloon," Mr Edward Cheng said.
Commenting on the work of the DAC, Professor David Lung said:
"Because of the very large scale and complexity of the project, the
local knowledge and cross-discipline experience and expertise of
the Kwun Tong DAC members would undoubtedly be essential in guiding
the project planning and implementation towards the right direction
and meeting the aspirations of the public."
"I understand that the Kwun Tong District Council and the local
residents are supportive of the project. My committee will work
very closely with them to ensure that the views of all important
stakeholders are fully taken into consideration in our project
planning process," he stressed.
The Kwun Tong Town Centre project is one of the 25 redevelopment
projects announced but not yet commenced by the URA's predecessor,
Land Development Corporation, in 1998. The URA plans to commence
the statutory town planning approval process for the project before
March 2007.
Subject to actual survey, the project is estimated to involve
acquisition of about 1,635 property interests. When completed, it
is expected to provide a modern town centre with commercial,
residential, leisure and recreational amenities, as well as various
public facilities including large open and landscaped space, public
transport interchange, government offices, medical clinic,
etc.
(END)
Membership List of the URA Kwun Tong District Advisory
Committee
Chairman
Professor David Lung Ping-yee
Members
Mr Chan Kam-cheung
The Hon Chan Kam-lam
Mr Chan Wah-yue
Mr Francis Chau Yin-ming
Mr Ching Ching-man
Mr Chong Yam-ming
Mr Fung Wun-yin
Mr Daniel Heung Cheuk-kei
Mr Hsu Hoi-shan
Ms Ko Po-ling
Mr Kwok Lit-tung
Mr Lai Wing-lin
Mr Lau Ting-on
The Hon Alan Leong Kar-kit
Ms Leung Fu-wing
The Hon Fred Li Wah-ming
Mr Lo Chung-hing
Ms Pauline Wong Po-lin
Mr Yeung Suen-sai
Representatives of the Urban Renewal Authority