Press Releases
Year 2020
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1 Dec 2020
Temporary closure of URA facilities
In view of the Government’s latest measures in response to the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announces today (1 December) that its public facilities will be temporarily closed, starting from tomorrow (2 December). All educational activities and docent services will also be temporarily suspended until further notice. Facilities to be temporarily closed include the Urban Renewal Exploration Centre, SPORTS EXPO, as well as the community spaces, exhibition areas and multi-purpose rooms of H6 CONET, 7 Mallory Street and 618 Shanghai Street. All the entrances and exits of H6 CONET will remain open to facilitate public access to the six adjacent streets during the closure period. While the Urban Renewal Resource Centre will remain open during office hou
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25 Nov 2020
Responses by URA to the 2020 Policy Address
In response to the announcement made by the Chief Executive in the 2020 Policy Address today (Wednesday) on the new initiatives to increase housing and build a liveable city, a spokesman of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) said the URA welcomes the Government’s new initiatives and will render its support to them. The URA makes the following remarks responding to the ongoing and new initiatives as mentioned in the Policy Address and Supplement: Redevelopment of Tai Hang Sai Estate in Shek Kip Mei The URA welcomes the support from Government to the redevelopment of Tai Hang Sai Estate (THSE), aiming to improve the living conditions of the residents, while at the same time maximise the development potential of the existing land to increase housing supply. The URA and the Hong Kong
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24 Nov 2020
Positive response with over 4,906 applications received for 43 “Starter Homes” units at URA’s eResidence
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) receives more than 4,906 applications for its 43 remaining units in eResidence which are designated as “Starter Homes” (SH) units upon the close of application submission at 7pm on 23 November 2020. Since the commencement of applications for the 43 SH units on 10 November 2020, more than 410 visitors have viewed the on-site show flats, while the enquiry service hotline has received over 1,320 enquiries on information including eligibility criteria, sales arrangement and show-flat appointment. The show flats will remain open for viewing until 21 December 2020 for those applicants who have submitted their applications. Those applicants who are interested to view the show flats are requested to make appointments via the online booking system (www.eres
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20 Nov 2020
URA welcomes appointments to the Board
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (20 November 2020) welcomes the Government’s appointment/reappointment of four non-executive directors (non-official) of the URA Board, for a term of three years with effect from 1 December 2020. The three new non-official non-executive directors are Mr William Chan Fu-keung, Mr Kwok Wai-keung and Mr Tony Tse Wai-chuen, whereas Mr Evan Au Yang Chi-chun is re-appointed as non-official non-executive director. “The members of the Board come from a wide spectrum of professions and sectors in the community with extensive experience and expertise. Their involvement will support the URA in fulfilling the important mission of taking forward urban renewal in Hong Kong. On behalf of the URA Board, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to the th
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16 Nov 2020
URA displays “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR codes to support Government’s launch of COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app
In response to the launch of the Government’s “LeaveHomeSafe” COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app which is available for public download starting from today (16 November), the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has arranged for display the “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR codes at its 43 venues including offices, public facilities and properties held by the URA, to facilitate members of the public to record the date and time for checking into venues, receiving COVID-19 exposure notifications and health advice. The URA venues showing the QR codes include its headquarters in Sheung Wan, all district offices, public facilitates, development projects, preservation and revitalisation projects, commercial properties that are owned and managed by the URA, as well as the seven shopping malls jointly
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9 Nov 2020
43 “Starter Homes” units at URA’s eResidence open for application starting 10 November
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) announces today (9 November 2020) that a total of 43 remaining units in eResidence are designated as “Starter Homes” (SH) units and open to eligible persons for application starting from 10 November 2020 till 7pm on 23 November 2020. These 43 units are the remaining units in eResidence after the sale of the 450 units under the SH Pilot Project in 2019. In accordance with the Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance, the URA uploaded the updated sales brochure on 5 November 2020 and published the price list today on the eResidence website (www.eresidence.hk) and the Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Electronic Platform (www.srpe.gov.hk). In response to the 2019 Policy Address made by the Chief Executive on the new initiatives o
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19 Oct 2020
URA issues acquisition offers to Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road Development Scheme
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (19 October 2020) issued acquisition offers to property owners affected by the Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road Development Scheme (the Project) in Kowloon City. Eligible owner-occupiers of domestic properties of the Project will be offered $17,698 per square foot of saleable area, which is the unit rate of a seven-year old notional replacement flat situated in the same locality (“Notional Unit Rate”). The Notional Unit Rate was approved by the Land, Rehousing and Compensation Committee (LRCC) of the URA Board. In line with the established mechanism, the URA appointed seven independent consultancy firms by open ballot to assess the Notional Unit Rate for the Project. The Notional Unit Rate was assessed by independent surveyors on 9 October, based on the
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16 Oct 2020
URA commences new redevelopment project
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (16 October 2020) commences the statutory planning procedures of the Shantung Street/Thistle Street Development Scheme (YTM-012) in Mong Kok. Adopting a planning-led urban renewal approach, the project will improve the environment of old districts through restructuring and re-planning of the project area, allowing more efficient urban renewal with greater planning benefits. General Manager (Planning and Design) of the URA, Mr Lawrence Mak, said at today’s press conference, “YTM-012 is implemented in accordance with the objectives set out in the 2011 Urban Renewal Strategy. The project aims to enhance the livability, accessibility and vibrancy of the community through restructuring and re-planning of the site for improved urban design and the bet
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5 Oct 2020
Second-round applications involving around 3,200 lifts received for Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme
Launched by the Government in partnership with the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the Lift Modernisation Subsidy Scheme (LIMSS) closed its second-round submission of application on 30 September 2020. According to preliminary counting, the URA received around 920 applications involving around 3,200 lifts. To promote lift modernisation and to enhance the safety of aged lifts, the Chief Executive announced in the 2018 Policy Address the launching of LIMSS to provide financial assistance and professional support to encourage building owners in need to organise and pursue the lift modernisation works. Under the first-round application of LIMSS conducted from 29 March to 1 August 2019, a total of about 1,200 applications involving around 5,000 lifts was received. The Steering Committee c
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16 Sep 2020
URA and TWGHs’ Young Leaders Programme cultivates leadership and fosters community connectivity
The third Young Leaders Programme jointly organised by the Urban Renewal Authority and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs) has been concluded with success. Students from seven participating secondary schools employed their knowledge on urban renewal learned from the Programme while injecting creativity to conceive proposals for improving quality of living of the residents in old districts. Launched in October last year and running for 11 months, this year’s Young Leaders Programme required the participating students to study the URA’s preservation and revitalisation project “7 Mallory Street” in the Wan Chai old district to understand the characteristics of this historic building and its surrounding communal environment. Backed up by the study, the students of each school submitte