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The Authority's Executive Director Andrew Lam and District Development Director Stephen Ng outlining details of the Po On Road/Shun Ning Road redevelopment project in Sham Shui Po.
An URA staff member interviewing Mr Au, a tenant affected by the project.
Mr Au's dwelling place is only a 20-square-foot cockloft built under the ceiling of the kitchen, which can barely accommodate him.
An aerial view of Sham Shui Po old district. Buildings within the project site area are bound by the red dotted line.
5 Jul 2002

URA unveils new project in Sham Shui Po

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) takes a major step forward in implementing its first five-year Corporate Plan with the launch of the redevelopment project at Po On Road/Shun Ning Road in Sham Shui Po district as a task force of 45 staff began a three-day survey today (Friday) to update occupancy records of the 260 affected households.

"This project marks the formal start of our five-year Corporate Plan and first-year Business Plan following earlier approval by Government and injection of capital by the Legislature late last month," URA Managing Director, Mr. Billy Lam, said.

In fact, this year the Authority has commenced its three "early launch" projects in Sham Shui Po, Tai Kok Tsui and Wan Chai ahead of Government's approval.

Outlining project details at an operation briefing for the media, Mr. Andrew S. L. Lam, Executive Director of URA said:"The Po On Road/Shun Ning Road project is also construed as part of a major effort to help facelift the neighbourhood along Hing Wah Street in Sham Shui Po, one of Hong Kong's oldest and most dilapidated urban districts."

He said he was working very closely with the URA's Sham Shui Po District Advisory Committee, which includes local residents representatives, on a host of innovative ideas put forward by the committee not only to redevelop the slum areas but also revitalise the district as a whole and preserve its social and cultural character.

Covering a site area of 1,380 square metres, the new project in Sham Shui Po will improve the quality of living of about 260 households involving over 700 people.

Upon completion, the project will deliver 180 residential flats and some retail units spanning an area of over 2,000 square metres. An open space of 250 square metres will also be provided for the enjoyment of the community.

Starting today and lasting over the weekend, a task force of 45 URA staff began a three-day survey by visiting each of the affected households to update their occupancy records and to answer queries.

URA District Development Director, Mr Stephen Ng said: "Purchase offers to acquire 72 property interests in the project area will be issued to the affected owners later this year, involving an estimated acquisition cost of about $170 million." Overall, the total development cost of the project is estimated at about $465 million.

To ensure that affected owners and tenants are fully informed of their rights and responsibilities, the URA is organising a series of briefing sessions for them on 11 and 12 July.

Meanwhile, an Urban Renewal Social Service Team dedicated to the Sham Shui Po district has also geared up to provide different kinds of practical assistance that the residents may need.

In addition, the Authority will deploy frontline staff to an URA neighbourhood centre to be set up in the vicinity of the project site to strengthen communication with the affected residents. A telephone hotline at 2588 2333 has also been set up to answer enquiries from the affected residents and the public.

Working hand in hand with the community, the URA is determined to speed up the pace of Hong Kong's urban renewal, targeting at implementing 225 projects in 20 years. The first five-year Corporate Plan comprises 42 projects. Following the new project in Sham Shui Po, four more projects will be announced in the next few months as part of the URA's first-year Business Plan.

"It is only a matter of months that the Authority's action on the redevelopment plans outlined in this year's Business Plan will reach other target areas," Mr Ng stressed.

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