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Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong (second left), and Chairman of URA, Mr Victor So Hing-woh (second right), sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the launch of Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme. The signing ceremony is witnessed by the Managing Director of URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing (right), and Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Francis Chau (left).
Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong (second left), and Chairman of URA, Mr Victor So Hing-woh (second right), sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the launch of Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme. The signing ceremony is witnessed by the Managing Director of URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing (right), and Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Francis Chau (left).
Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Francis Chau (from left); Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Eric Pang; Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; Chairman of URA, Mr Victor So Hing-woh; Managing Director of URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing; and Executive Director (Operations) of URA, Mr Ben Lui, attend the MOU signing ceremony for the launch of Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme.
Deputy Secretary for Development (Works), Mr Francis Chau (from left); Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Eric Pang; Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong; Chairman of URA, Mr Victor So Hing-woh; Managing Director of URA, Ir Wai Chi-sing; and Executive Director (Operations) of URA, Mr Ben Lui, attend the MOU signing ceremony for the launch of Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme.
27 Mar 2019

Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme opens for application starting from 29 March

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Development Bureau for the launch of the Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme (LIMSS).  The first round of application for the LIMSS will start this Friday (29 March 2019) and close on 31 July 2019.

The Chief Executive announced in the 2018 Policy Address the launching of a $2.5-billion LIMSS to facilitate building owners to expedite lift modernisation with a view to enhancing the safety level of aged lifts and further safeguarding public safety.  Making reference to the on-going “Operation Building Bright 2.0 Scheme” and “Fire Safety Improvement Works Subsidy Scheme”, the Government and the URA encourage building owners in need to expedite planning and launching of lift modernisation works through provision of financial assistances and professional support.

Speaking after the signing of the MOU, the Chairman of the URA, Mr Victor So Hing-woh, said, “Over the years, the URA has been taking up the role in providing a one-stop and comprehensive support to property owners on building rehabilitation.  As lifts are one of the important common facilities in buildings, the URA will arrange consultant to provide free services, including assistance in preparing tender document, provision of the electronic tendering platform to appoint qualified registered contractor, as well as works supervision and contract management. These services will help building owners organise and monitor the lift modernisation works, hence ensuring its smooth implementation and effectiveness for the enhancement of overall building safety in Hong Kong.” 

Also attending the signing ceremony, the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said, “The LIMSS will focus on providing financial incentive and appropriate professional support to owners of private residential and composite buildings in need to encourage them to carry out lift modernisation works, with a view to enhancing safety of aged lifts and further safeguarding safety of the public.”

The application requirements and details of the LIMSS are given at the Annex. Successful applications can receive subsidy of 60% of the total cost of lift modernisation works, subject to a cap of $500,000 per lift.  Eligible elderly owner-occupiers aged 60 or above will be granted full subsidy, subject to a cap of $50,000 per domestic unit.

The URA and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department will jointly organise a total of 11 briefing sessions from April to May this year, to enable the public to understand the details, application methods and need-to-know of the new scheme.  The URA has sent letters to owners of the target buildings to invite them to attend the briefing sessions.  Applicants are expected to be notified of the results of the first-round application by the fourth quarter of 2019.

For those interested owners’ representatives who are unable to make application in time prior to the close of the first-round application (i.e. 31 July 2019), they can join the second-round application for the LIMSS with details to be announced later.

The URA joined hands with relevant government departments, professional institutions and works contractor associations to launch the Building Rehabilitation Platform (BRP) to provide comprehensive building rehabilitation information and technical support for owners and Owners’ Corporations.  The BRP website (http://www.brplatform.org.hk) was put into operation on 25 March 2019.  The application form and guidance notes of the LIMSS can be downloaded from the BRP website from 29 March onwards or obtained from the following URA offices:

  • URA Headquarters: 26/F COSCO Tower, 183 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong;
  • URA Building Rehabilitation Division Office: Unit 1001, 10/F, Tower 2, Cheung Sha Wan Plaza, 833 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon;
  • Urban Renewal Resource Centre: 1/F, No. 6, Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon; and
  • URA Neighbourhood Centres:
    • Unit C, 1/F, Yue Wah Mansion, 34-62 Yue Man Square, Kwun Tong; and
    • Units K & L, 1/F, Sunshine Plaza, 17 Sung On Street, Hunghom

The application form and guidance notes will also be available for collection at all Home Affairs Enquiry Centres shortly.  Applications can be made by sending the duly completed form to the URA by post, in person or by submitting electronically on the URA website.

For details about the LIMSS, members of the public can call the Hotline at 3188 1188 for enquiries.

Application Details for Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme

Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme
Application Period 29 March to 31 July 2019
Eligible buildings
  • Private residential or composite (residential and commercial) buildings
  • Average rateable values of all domestic units for year 2017/18 in a participating building should not:
    • exceed $162,000 per annum for urban areas (including Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan Districts);
    • exceed $124,000 per annum for New Territories (excluding Sha Tin, Kwai Tsing and Tsuen Wan Districts)
  • Lifts in the buildings have not been equipped with any or all of the “essential safety devices” (see below)
Eligible works items

Subsidy applicable to the following items of lift modernisation works:

(a) Retrofitting with the following additional safety devices:

Essential safety devices
(i) Double brake system;
(ii) Unintended car movement protection device;
(iii) Ascending car overspeed protection device; and
(iv) Car door mechanical lock and door safety edge;

Optional safety devices
(v) Intercom and CCTV system;
(vi) Obstruction switch; and /or
(vii) Automatic rescue device

(b) Lift drive replacement and associated works where it is technically necessary or more cost effective in order to install the “essential safety devices” listed in Item (a) above; or

(c) Complete replacement of a lift which has not been equipped with any or all of the “essential safety devices” listed in Item (a) above;
 

(d) Subsequent follow-up services during defect liability period for the related safety devices above but exclusive of routine maintenance services
Form and level of subsidy
  • A maximum 60% of the total cost of the modernisation works will be subsidised, subject to a cap of $500,000 per lift
  • URA will arrange consultant to provide free consultancy service. If owners appoint their own consultant to co-ordinate the modernisation works, relevant consultancy fee will be subsidised, subject to a cap of $20,000 per lift
  • Total subsidy for consultancy fee (if applicable) and the cost of the modernisation works is capped at $500,000 per lift
  • Eligible elderly owner-occupiers aged 60 or above will be subsidised the full cost of the modernisation works as well as consultancy fee of owner-appointed consultant (if applicable) that they have to contribute, subject to a cap of $50,000 per domestic unit

(ENDS)

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