No consideration for Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai

With reference to an article in a local English newspaper today (16 July 2001) on the first batch of redevelopment projects by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the URA would like to make it clear that no consideration has been made for the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai.

The Urban Renewal Authority, set up to replace the Land Development Corporation in May this year, is tasked to implement a massive 20-year redevelopment programme involving 200 new projects and 25 LDC announced projects, which affect some 140,000 people and 1,800 old buildings.

In accordance with the stipulation of the URA Ordinance, the URA has to submit a five-year Corporate Plan and an annual Business Plan to the Financial Secretary for approval. The URA is now actively working on these plans and it is expected that a submission will be made by the end of the year. While it is true that the URA is also studying a list of "early launch" projects for implementation, a decision has yet to be taken by the Board of the URA. There is absolutely no truth in the article that the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai will be redeveloped as a priority project of the URA. It has never been one of the 25 LDC announced projects, and the URA has no plan to redevelop it.

16 July 2001