Kwun Tong Town Centre : URA Commences Largest Project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) announced the
commencement of its biggest ever project - redevelopment of the
Kwun Tong Town Centre - by conducting a freezing survey of the
estimated 4,500 residents who will now have the long-awaited
opportunity to improve their living standard through compensation
and rehousing.
The Kwun Tong town centre which occupies a site area of over 5.3
hectares, was built in the early 1960s and badly needs
redevelopment. Local residents suffering from leaking roofs
and walls, poor hygiene, clogged sewage and everyday traffic chaos
have been anxiously urging for early implementation since the
project was first announced by the then Land Development
Corporation in 1998.
Speaking at today's media briefing to announce details of the
freezing survey, District Development Director of the URA, Mr
Joseph Lee, said the huge project would pose a formidable challenge
to the URA in all aspects of urban renewal.
He said: "Our greatest concern is to ensure that the residents'
and shop operators' rights to compensation and rehousing are fairly
looked after and, at the same time, that every effort is made to
help them overcome any family or personal problems that may
occur. Urban Renewal is not just about compensation but, more
importantly, about dealing with the human issues."
"We also have to ensure that as a town centre providing daily
necessities of life, such as transport and clinic services, to the
600,000 people of Kwun Tong, the place will go on functioning
throughout the acquisition and redevelopment period. It would
be a nightmare for everyone if the town centre were brought to a
standstill overnight," he commented.
"This will take a huge amount of careful planning and
coordination. Above all, this will need the support,
co-operation and forbearance from the entire Kwun Tong community,"
he said.
He therefore stressed the importance of maintaining close liaison
with all stakeholders, particularly the affected residents, the
District Council and Government departments concerned.
"We shall hold a total of 66 briefing sessions for the thousands
of residents and shop operators to explain to them what will happen
in the weeks and months ahead with regard to the statutory process
of town planning approval before acquisition can begin; and we want
to listen to their views. We shall also get together with the
District Council, Government departments and NGOs to discuss many
practical issues of mutual concern," Mr Lee said.
"We attach such great importance to the Kwun Tong project that we
have, for the first time, set up a regional office situated within
the project site so that we can meet and talk with the locals
everyday. The scale of this regional office is considerably
larger than the URA neighbourhood centres that normally serve other
redevelopment projects," he added.
About 200 URA staff members have been deployed for the three-day
survey starting today. Members of the public wish to make
enquiries about the survey can call the URA hotline 2588
2333.
When asked about the submission of planning application to the
Town Planning Board and the content, Mr Lee said this would take
place in about three weeks' time.
He said the URA has carried out four rounds of public consultation
in the past two years, gathering a large amount of public views and
suggestions. "We are incorporating a lot of the suggestions
in the final plan and design which would be ready for submission
soon," he said.
Also meeting the press today is Mr Kwok Lit-tung, Director of the
Christian Family Service Centre (CFSC) which has taken up the task
of setting up an urban renewal social service team to provide
professional social work services for the affected residents.
The CSFC has a long and proven record of assisting residents
affected by redevelopment projects.
Mr Kwok said the role of his team was to ensure that a
people-oriented approach would be adopted for those in genuine need
of help. He said the CFSC has assigned a 4-member team
working full-time for the residents.
"The CFSC have been servicing Kwun Tong for 50 years and are very
familiar with the district. Our approach will be to attend to
every detail of their needs. It's always the details that
count," he said.
The Kwun Tong social service team is currently working at a
temporary office located at Ground floor shop No. 6 of Ping On
House, Wo Lok Estate, Kwun Tong. The team can also be reached
at 3580 8841. Later this year, they will move to the URA's
regional office at G/F 71 Hip Wo Street, Kwun Tong.
(END)