Press Releases
Year 2003
-
31 Dec 2003
Completion of Sheung Wan Fong Project (Phase 1)
市區重建局主席劉華森表示，市建局的基本任務，並非限於拆卸重建，而是將整個舊區改造和活化，令舊區轉化為新動力，居民既可以享受新的環境，區內的經濟亦得以激發新活力。 劉華森今日（星期三）陪同房屋及規劃地政局局長孫明揚，為歷時半年的市建局上環坊舊區更新項目首期工程，主持竣工典禮。他致詞時說，為了舊區的全面改造和活化，市建局將重建、復修、保育和更新四種策略合而為一，在上環舊區首次發揮。 在未來幾年，市建局將會在港九其他目標區，包括灣仔、油麻地、旺角等，舉辦類似的更新和改造工程，為舊區注入新生命力。 劉華森表示，上環是市建局的重點「改造目標區」之一。市建局首先界定上環的中央部份作為「改造目標區」，範圍以市建局兩個已經落成的重建項目為重心，東面是永樂街的新紀元廣場，西面是皇后街的帝后華庭。兩者之間的地段便成為持續性的改造目標區。 「除了西港城的保育和改革，以及正在逐步實現的上環坊更新美化工程之外，下一步的更新地點，包括有燕窩參茸街之稱的南北行，使到帝后華庭、南北行、上環坊和西港城連成一個組合。至於南面的文武廟和古董街地區，將會在適當時候納入更新目標區。市建局亦會在區內物色樓宇復修的項目。」 他同時表示，環境美化的建築工程，只是舊區改造的一部份，更重要的是注入「改造區的管理概念」，集合當地商界的力量，以靈活的手法進行市場推廣及宣傳，持續地激發社區的活力和動力，吸引人流，創造商機；並將收益用作持續管理地區的費用。 竣工典禮包括取出十三年前（一九九○年十二月），西港城首度翻新工程完成後埋下的文物囊；其中載有當年的通勝、日曆、報章及十元紙幣。今日在典禮中加入兩幅寫上「市建維新」及「上下一心」的卷軸，其上載有所有出席嘉賓及市建局董事和職員的簽名。存封後的文物囊已再次埋入西港城地下，以作時間的見證。 「上環坊」計劃全期工程耗資近三千萬元，首期工程主要包括把歷史悠久的
-
19 Dec 2003
Warmth and care for elderly and needy families in Central & Western
Warmth and joy filled the hearts of some 100 residents, mostly elderly people in Central & Western District when they are offered woollen blankets to brace up for the cold and chilly weather. Sponsored by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the event is organised by the Urban Renewal Social Service Team of the St James' Settlement to provide care and assistance to the needy families and elderly people living in Staunton Street / Wing Lee Street and the First Street/Second Street project areas of the Authority. Front-line staff of the URA also helped in giving out woollen blankets to the needy families. Photograph shows Madam Kam, 84, returns the warm gesture with a hearty smile.
-
2 Nov 2003
Development Concept Competition for Lee Tung Street/McGregor Street Project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Sunday) announced a development concept competition inviting visionary and practical ideas from professional planners and architects for its largest-ever urban redevelopment project, the $3.58 billion Lee Tung Street/McGregor Street project in Wan Chai. This is the first time that an open professional competition is held for a major urban redevelopment project in Hong Kong. Up to five prizes will be awarded to the selected entries with each receiving $100,000. The competition covers an area of about two hectares in the old town of Wan Chai that includes the development site of the Lee Tung Street project and its immediate surrounding environment. A five-member adjudicator panel will decide the winning entries. Panel Member, Professor David Lu
-
17 Oct 2003
URA announces $3.58 billion project in Wan Chai
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) announced the implementation of a $3.58 billion renewal project in Lee Tung Street/McGregor Street in Wan Chai, which is its largest project so far. The Lee Tung Street project, together with three other on-going redevelopment projects of the URA in the surrounding area, will regenerate the Wan Chai old town into a new precinct of leisure, shopping, residential and commercial activities. Commenting on the project, URA's Executive Director of Planning and Development, Mr. Andrew Lam, said: "The site covers an area of about 8,900 square metres in the heart of Wan Chai. Taken together with our other projects in Johnston Road, Tai Yuen Street and Queen's Road East, it has the potential of creating an activity hub bringing a new life to the
-
3 Oct 2003
Voluntary Building Rehabilitation Pilot Scheme by URA
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announced today (Friday) an extension of its voluntary building rehabilitation pilot scheme to help owners of multi-owned old buildings carry out preventive building maintenance to improve their living environment. This is URA's initiative on rehabilitation while the Authority is broadening its horizon by expanding its work to all fronts of the 4Rs, namely Redevelopment, Rehabilitation, Revitalisation and pReservation. The URA will approach the owners' corporations of 10 to 15 buildings, involving about 1,200 households in old urban districts over the next six months and invite them to join the pilot scheme. URA District Development Director, Mr Stephen Lam, told a media briefing today that Hong Kong is facing an acute problem of urban decay. Although
-
21 Aug 2003
URA issues acquisition offers for projects in Tai Kok Tsui and Hung Hom
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) issues offer letters today (Thursday) to owners of 90 property interests affected by its Bedford Road/Larch Street and Baker Court projects at a total acquisition cost of about $207 million. Owner-occupiers of domestic properties affected by the Bedford Road/Larch Street project in Tai Kok Tsui and the Baker Court project in Hung Hom will be offered $2,671 and $2,732 per square foot on a saleable area basis respectively. These offers represent an average of about 3.1 times the open market value of the properties concerned, which are between 35 and 50 years old and have been valued at a unit rate of $860 to $880 per square foot. "These purchase offers are based on Government' s Home Purchase Allowance (HPA) policy that links the level of compensation
-
15 Jul 2003
Press Statement by URA
In response to a newspaper report today concerning the Urban Renewal Authority's (URA) work, the Authority issues the following statement: The Government's Urban Renewal Strategy (URS), which provides a framework for the operation of the URA, was published in November 2001. Section 39 of the Strategy states that the Strategy "will be reviewed and updated regularly (every two or three years)." Accordingly, the earliest date to schedule the Strategy for review is November 2003. It is therefore incumbent upon the Authority to make preparations and provide input to the Government on this exercise, which the Authority is now doing. The Authority will reflect upon the experience gained in its past two years of operation as well as changes in the overall economy and the property market a
-
15 Jul 2003
Anti-SARS drainage improvement designs for URA projects
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and its joint venture partners will adopt improved drainage system designs at four residential projects under construction as a hygiene precaution against SARS. Chairman of URA's Planning, Development and Conservation Committee, Professor David Lung, told a press conference today (Tuesday) that the URA and its private sector partners, have decided to adopt two alternative improvement designs known as U-trap Refilling Design and Pipes Separation Design. Either one of the designs will be adopted for the four residential projects which consist of about 4,300 flats in total. The additional cost for the new designs is estimated at about $2 million. "This represents only a small fraction of the total development costs that run into billions of dollars but it
-
8 Jul 2003
URA announces $515m redevelopments in Tai Kok Tsui and Hung Hom
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Tuesday) announced two new redevelopment projects in Tai Kok Tsui and Hung Hom at a total cost of $515 million to improve the living environment of an estimated 960 residents in about 330 households. This brings the total number of URA redevelopment projects to 11 in the past 18 months, including eight commenced in 2002/03 and another one announced last week, which is undertaken in association with the Hong Kong Housing Society. One of the projects is located in Larch Street and Bedford Road, Tai Kok Tsui and the other in Baker Court, Hung Hom. The former will cost about $443 million in development cost, including about $220 for property acquisition and tenant re-housing. The latter will cost about $72 million in development cost, including abo
-
4 Jul 2003
Commencement of First URA-HS Urban Renewal Project
A spokesman of the Urban Renewal Authority issues the following statement today (Friday) upon commencement of the first urban redevelopment project under a strategic partnership between the URA and the Hong Kong Housing Society: "The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is pleased to see the commencement of the first urban redevelopment project by the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) today under the strategic partnership agreement between the two bodies. This marks the beginning of a total of seven URA redevelopment projects to be undertaken initially by the HKHS in accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the chairmen of the two bodies last December. "Co-operation between the URA and the HKHS will definitely help speed up the pace of urban renewal in Hong Kong. As a result, thi