URA commences a project under 5th round of demand-led redevelopment project (pilot scheme)
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) announced the commencement of a project at Man On Street/Tai Kok Tsui Road in Tai Kok Tsui under the fifth round of the demand-led redevelopment project (pilot scheme), which is also the 12th demand-led project commenced by the URA since the introduction of the pilot scheme in 2011.
In accordance with Section 23 of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, an URA notice announcing the commencement of the project is published in the Gazette today. There will be a two-month publication period commencing today. The URA will consider written objections to the project received during the publication period.
The project, located at Nos. 8 -30 Man On Street (even number) and Nos. 193 - 199 Tai Kok Tsui Road (odd number), covers a total area of about 1,770 square metres, involving a total of 16 street numbers of buildings. They were built between 1957 and 1958 and are generally in varied condition with subdivided units and unauthorised building structures. The living condition is considered unsatisfactory.
The project affects a total of 102 property interests. It is estimated that there are about 168 households and about 19 ground floor shops. The actual number will have to be confirmed in a freezing survey to be conducted by the URA today.
At a media briefing to announce the project, Head (Planning & Design), Mr Roger Tang, said the continued implementation of the project is subject to the fulfillment of both of the following two conditions precedent:
- Owners of not less than 80% of undivided shares of each lot in the project site accepting URA's conditional acquisition offers to be issued after the two-month publication period and signing legally binding sale and purchase agreements within 75 days of the offers (the 80% acceptance condition precedent); and
- The Secretary for Development authorises URA to implement the project and no appeal is filed within the appeal period or if appeal is filed, the dismissal of appeal, within one year of the issue of the conditional acquisition offers by the URA (the Secretary authorisation condition precedent).
If any of the two conditions precedent is not met within the prescribed time, the project will not be implemented further and be ceased automatically.
Also speaking at the briefing session, General Manager (Acquisition & Clearance) of the URA, Mr Kelvin Chung, said conditional acquisition offers would be issued to the owners for acceptance soonest possible after the expiry of the two-month publication period. The offers will be valid for 75 days.
"If the 80% acceptance condition precedent is fulfilled within the 75-day offer period and the Secretary authorisation condition precedent is fulfilled within the one year authorisation period, the URA will then proceed to complete the sale and purchase agreements already signed with the relevant owners. Flat-for-flat option will also be offered to eligible owner-occupiers thereafter. Failing the fulfilment of the two conditions precedent, the project will not be implemented further and be ceased automatically," said Mr Chung.
Mr Chung said that about 100 URA staff have been deployed to conduct the freezing survey today to ascertain the actual number of households and the occupancy status of the properties within the project site in order to determine their eligibility for compensation and benefits as a result of URA's implementation of the project.
The URA will arrange briefing sessions next week to explain to the affected owners and tenants the planning approval procedures and acquisition and compensation arrangements for demand-led projects.
During the two-month publication period, a site plan delineating the boundary of the project together with a general description of the project will be put on display for public inspection at:
a) the URA's Urban Renewal Resource Centre, 1/F, 6 Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon;
b) the Public Enquiry Service Centre of the Yau Tsim Mong District Office, G/F, Mong Kok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Mong Kok, Kowloon; and
c) URA Headquarters, 26/F, COSCO Tower, 183 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong.
Such information is also available on the URA website at www.ura.org.hk
An urban renewal social service team staffed by professional social workers of the Salvation Army, which has been appointed by the Urban Renewal Fund, will provide counselling and practical assistance that the owners and residents may need. The contact number of the social service team is 2117 8673.
The URA's current development plan is to redevelop the project to provide about 10,300 square metres of residential floor area for about 200 residential units. It will also provide non-domestic floor area of about 2,000 square metres. The project is tentatively scheduled for completion by 2024/2025. The total development cost for the project is estimated at about $1,700 million at current prices.
(ENDS)