URA Chairman's Press Statement

The Chairman of the Urban Renewal Authority, Mr. Barry Cheung, issues the following press statement today (Fri).

"After 37 years of public service including the last six years with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), Mr. Billy Lam Chung-lun, Managing Director of URA, has indicated his wish to take a long-postponed break, and spend more time with his family when his current contract with the URA expires at the end of this year.

Much as this being a great loss to the Authority, the URA Board understands his wishes, and respects his decision.

On behalf of all Members of the Board, I wish to express our most sincere appreciation for the many contributions that Mr. Lam has made, not just to the URA, but also to urban renewal as a whole over the past years.

Mr. Lam joined the URA not long after the public body came into being. Under his exemplary leadership, the URA has successfully established a highly effective urban renewal operation. He was instrumental in the URA's conception and implementation of a holistic 4R strategy - Redevelopment, Rehabilitation, pReservation and Revitalisation. This has laid a solid foundation for our pursuit of a sustainable urban renewal programme in Hong Kong.

I have worked very closely with Mr. Lam throughout the last six years in my capacities as a Member of the URA Board, Chairman of the Authority's Finance Committee, and now Chairman of the Board. Mr. Lam's integrity, professionalism and dedication to advancing urban renewal in Hong Kong are much admired and respected by the Board, Management and staff alike. In particular, I must pay him special tribute for his leadership in guiding the organisation through the difficult times and uncertainties during its founding years.

Mr. Lam will be leaving behind a fine organisation that is well positioned to fulfill the heavy responsibilities that have been entrusted to it by the people of Hong Kong.

I wish Mr. Lam and his family all the best, and every success in his future endeavours."

(END)